Unless I manually click on the Custom Tab of database properties and add a
property, I am unable to use code to add a property.  

I get an error with the following line of code:
Set doc = db.Containers!Databases.Documents!UserDefined

It says that 'Item not found in collection'  If I then go to the Custom tab
and add a property and then delete it, I do not get this error.

The MsysObjects table gets a record booked to it by manually setting a
property, so I am thinking this is a bug (no surprise).

Any workarounds?

eg try and set a data control's databasename and recordsource at run-
time only.

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Antony Melvin