When the user opens NBS Contract administrator they may get the following error - "An error has occurred. This could be due to NBS Contract Administrator attempting to open an invalid database".


1 -The first step is to get the customer to send in their CAFtab.cadb file via nbs.wetrasfer.com


2 - Once we have the file on your local machine create a folder with the naming format oy YYYY.MM.DD - Company name


3 - Within this folder create 2 additional folders, Original, In Progress and Fixed


4 -Place the customers CAFtab.cadb file in the Original folder and take a copy of this and paste it into the In Progress Folder.

Note - do not edit the file in the original, this is so that if something goes wrong with the version we are working on we have a unedited version of the customers data to revert back to.


5 - Follow this article to attempt to fix using NBS Contract Administrator Tools in the first instance



Error has occurred. This could be due to NBS Contract Administrator attempting to open an invalid database | NBS (thenbs.com) 


If this doesn't resolve the issue the next step is to open the file using Microsoft Access. 


6 - To open in Microsoft Access first locate Access from your start menu


7 - Select the Open other Files option in the bottom left-hand corner and browse to the CAFtab.cadb file stored in the In Progress folder



8 - When browsing to the In Progress folder you will need to change the file type from Microsoft Access



To All Files


9 - You will then be prompted for a password to open the file. The password is stored internally here 

Note - this password should not be passed on to the customer


10 - The following error message may appear - 

Click OK to the message and when you send the CAFtab.cadb back to the customer advise them to thoroughly check through their data to ensure all jobs and forms are present.


11 - Once open select the Database Tools tab at the top and click the Compact and Repair Database button


12 - Now close Microsoft Access (no need to save) and take a copy of the CAFtab.cadb file from the In Progress folder and paste it into the Fixed folder.


13 - Open NBS Contract Administrator and go to Tools > Options > File Locations and browse to the CAFtab.cadb file in the In Progress Folder


14 - Should the file open without issue, send the CAFtab.cadb file in the Fixed folder back to the customer via WeTransfer


Should the issue still be present this will need to be logged as a data repair. See Helpdesk : NBS Customer Support (thenbs.com)