Test to see if ODBC Linked Table is Available - ms-access

I have an Access database that links to six tables in other SQL databases using ODBC connections. I then have a couple of queries running checks on these tables generating some reports. However, before I run the queries, I want to ensure that all six tables are reachable. All the DB's are offsite and I connect to them over a VPN connection, so it does happen that a table might be offline for a couple of minutes due to connectivity constraints.
I have done so many searches but I am not able to find something that even remotely answers my question.
Ideally I would like to have a list of the tables with a little green / red dot next to each showing whether it is online or not. But I guess one needs to be realistic.
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

You could simply “try” and open the table(s) in question. However, if your connection is gone, then you find some VERY nasty effects. First you get a huge delay (bad). And if you trigger an ODBC error, in most cases you have to exit the application.
To avoid the above?
It turns out there is a different pathway to get access to check if you have use of the server. It not only eliminates the dreaded and all evil ODBC error, but ALSO errors out MUCH faster to boot! You find the “error out” is VERY fast!
The way this works is you use a queryDef to check if you have a connection. This causes access to use a “different” path and test then opening a reocrdset.
So this approach avoids the long delay, and also ODBC errors.
You can use this routine for the test:
Function TestLogon(strCon As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo TestError
Dim dbs As DAO.Database
Dim qdf As DAO.QueryDef
Set dbs = CurrentDb()
Set qdf = dbs.CreateQueryDef("")
qdf.Connect = strCon
qdf.ReturnsRecords = False
'Any VALID SQL statement that runs on server will work below.
qdf.SQL = "SELECT 1"
qdf.Execute
TestLogon = True
Exit Function
TestError:
TestLogon = False
Exit Function
End Function
Now, say in our code, we had a linked table. So, we can use/grab the connection of that linked table, and test like this:
Sub MyCoolUpdate()
Dim strCon As String
Dim rstHotels As DAO.Recordset
strCon = CurrentDb.TableDefs("dbo_tblHotels").Connect
If TestLogon(strCon) = True Then
' it is safe to open the linked table,
'eg:
Set rstHotels = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset("dbo_tblHotels", dbOpenDynaset, dbSeeChanges)
' we are conneced - do your stuff
' walk the dog - do updates
rstHotels.Close
End If
End Sub
So I much suggest you don't try and touch a linked table to the server until such time you test using the above trick.

Related

use login to allow use of dsnless links

i'm using dsnless links in access 2019 to a mysql instance on aws. I have an Access login form, which passes uid & password to a connection string in VBA, and connects and executes simple "select 1".
All along, i assumed the credentials from my access input form were being used to check against my MYSQL users, BUT...it looks to maybe use a cached user/password instead? When i enter a wrong password into my access login form, it still successfully connects and executes the qdf / sql query.
(i can 'watch' the connection string in vba does have the wrong password)
how can i force odbc to authenticate using the actual id & password actually being sent in connection string??
This simple login form has worked, but just realizing now it will pass a wrong password from my access form, but yet still connect and execute the sql...
Function TestLogin(uid As String, pwd As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo testerror
Dim dbs As DAO.Database
Dim qdf As DAO.QueryDef
Dim RST As DAO.Recordset
Dim strcon As String
Dim errX As DAO.Error
Dim strsql As String
Dim strRW
strcon = "ODBC; Driver=MySQL ODBC 8.0 Unicode Driver;" & _
"SERVER={xxx};DATABASE=xxx;PORT=3306;" & _
"UID=" & uid & "; PWD=" & pwd & ";COLUMN_SIZE_S32=1;DFLT_BIGINT_BIND_STR=1;OPTION=3"
Set dbs = CurrentDb()
dbs.QueryTimeout = 5
Set qdf = dbs.CreateQueryDef("")
qdf.Connect = strcon
qdf.sql = "SELECT current_user"
Set RST = qdf.OpenRecordset(dbOpenSnapshot, dbSQLPassThrough)
TestLogin = True
mysqlUser = uid
floor = DLookup("floor", "tblxx", "user ='" & mysqlUser & "'")
Set qdf = Nothing
Set RST = Nothing
DoCmd.Close
DoCmd.OpenForm "Switchboard"
exit_errorTrap:
Set qdf = Nothing
Set RST = Nothing
Exit Function
Ok, the WAY this works can be confusing.
On application start up we asume you do not by accient (or intention) let any form, any VBA code that runs to touch, or logon or use IN ANY POSSBILE way on startup.
Ok, with above? If you linked the tables correct without UID/Password, if you touch, or even try to open a table from the nav pane? you SHOULD get a ODBC prompt. So, test the above - hold down shift key during startup - NO CODE or NO touch of a linked table is assumed here.
Now, click on a linked table - if the table opens, then you screwed up your table linking, and you DO NOT need the logon, then, right????
Next issue - and READ VERY careful.
If you execute a VALID logon (with your logon code), then ONCE you done this, the correct connection is cached - you can NOT IN ANY POSSBILE way blow out, remove, or re-set that cache.
If AFTER having executed ANY valid logon?
Then ANY ADTIONAL attempted logons (say with your logon code) WILL ALWAYS return true and valid. INCLUDING WRONG logons!!!! (they STILL return true!!!!).
The above information thus means some very significant issue's.
to clear hte logon, you will have to (must) exit Access. You thus can't crete a logout form - you must EXIT applcation.
Worse yet, you BETTER ALWAYS BUT ALWAYS BUT ALWAYS exit access first to clear that cache when developing and testing re-linking of tables. If you at any point in time during development by intention (or accident) open a linked table, and enter uid/password (or do so via code, or do so by JUST clicking on a linked table that DOES and DID save the uid/password?.
Then if you decide to re-link tables - EVEN WITH a incorrect UID/password, they WILL REPORT they linked ok!!!! - but they did not!!!! Even during re-link, if you use the wrong UID/Password, you are screwed, since access will in fact use the cached one (if your uid/password are wrong!!!!).
So, you first have to 100%, if not 200% do the first test above - check, double check/ triple check that linked tables do NOT WORK when clicked on.
Now, run your VBA logon.
Now, cliking on any linked table should work. But as noted, ONCE you touched, or logged on (by any possbile means), the UID/PW is cached, and will remain so for that session until such time you exit access.
What this means is you get ONCE chance to logon. They can fail, but the instant you achieve ONE successful logon, then ALL FURTHER attempts at logons WILL WORK - even if incorrect.
In summary:
You can prompt for a logon.
you can do this without having to re-link tables.
All linked tables, and EVEN pass-though queries will use that cached logon.
You MUST exit access to clear this cache, and thus it is IMPOSSILE to now launch your custom logon form and logon with a different user, since the previous user remains cached.
This also as noted means during deveopment, to link tables without uid/pw, you need to exit Access. launch access (without ANY POSSBILE touch of linked tables/data).
You then execute your logon. You THEN re-link tables without UID/Password. Then you have to exit access, re-launch (shift startup by-pass). Now click on a table - it should fail - prompt for odbc.
But, if you exit, shift- by pass startup. Execute your logon. Now click on a linked table - it should work. If it does not, or the first test (without a logon DID work, then as noted, you have royal screwed up something here.
so, for wrong/incorrect logons? You can continue trying to log on.
But ONCE you have logged on - that's quite much the end of this process. Any further attempts at logons will ALWAYS work - even for totaly wrong logons - you have to exit to clear the PW cache.
you also as a result can thus not use two cached passwords - say some tables linked as read only, and some tables linked as read/write (based on different uid/pw). and the reason is you can't control which logon will be used - and access will thus choose the read/write logon.
So, I suppose the most simple explain?
Once a uid/pw is cached, then you can and will be able to use all linked tables regardless of what uid/logon you attempt to use. And EVEN if at that point in time you did decide to run your re-link code? it will re-link JUST fine, even if you supply a incorrect uid/password. But, be carful!!! - you can in some cases thus re-link, check that the tables worked, but when you exit, and re-enter - you find those linked tables now don't work!!!
So, be VERY careful, if not outright SUPER careful when you re-link, especially if you been messing around with connections - you have to exit access, shift by-pass startup. and THEN re-link your tables. One stray cached uid/password, and you are in heaps of trouble - since things will work, and not make any sense at all.
keeping the above simple concept in mind - all will and should now make sense.
I been using this code:
Function TestLogin(strCon As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo TestError
Dim dbs As DAO.Database
Dim qdf As DAO.QueryDef
Set dbs = CurrentDb()
Set qdf = dbs.CreateQueryDef("")
qdf.connect = strCon
qdf.ReturnsRecords = False
'Any VALID SQL statement that runs on server will work below.
' this does assume user has enough rights to query built in
' system tables
qdf.sql = "SELECT 1 "
qdf.Execute
TestLogin = True
Exit Function
TestError:
TestLogin = False
Exit Function
End Function
now you used a pass-though query - and I never done/use that before - and don't think it will work. You have to use above format.

VBA Connection Issue with MySQL - Connected at Top of Macro, but not bottom

I have a macro that opens an ADODB connection to a MySQL library. There are two queries that are generated in the macro. The first, which works, is a select statement to check for duplicates. The second, which is not working, is to insert records onto the same table the select statement referenced. I am receiving no errors from VBA, and when I copy/paste directly into MySQL the query works fine.
At the top of my macro I set up the connection as follows:
TimesheetConn = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 5.3 ANSI Driver}; SERVER=*server number*;PORT=*port number*;database=my_db;UID=User;PWD=password;Option=2"
'Connection Info
Dim cnn As ADODB.Connection
On Error GoTo AdoError
Set cnn = New ADODB.Connection
With cnn
.ConnectionString = TimesheetConn
.Open
.CommandTimeout = 0
End With
Set FIT_Data = New ADODB.Recordset
Set Task_Data = New ADODB.Recordset
I then develop the Select query (fitidquery) and run it as:
FIT_Data.Open fitidquery, cnn, CursorType = 2
I do not close the connection, but then move on to generate my next query, an insert query (addtasks3), by looping through rows and assigning variables.
Then I try to call the connection again with:
Task_Data.Open addtasks3, cnn, adOpenForwardOnly, adLockReadOnly
cnn.Close
And it doesn't work, nor does it give me any errors either for VBA or SQL. As said before, copying the result of debug.print(addtasks3) into MySQL the query runs correctly and inserts the records.
I've tried opening a 2nd connection with the same parameters. That didn't work as well. I moved the On Error language down to in front of the second query call and it moves on to the AdoError message which seems to indicate that the connection is lost there.
I appreciate any help!
If you issue an Insert-statement, there is no need to involve a recordset. You can simply execute
cnn.Execute addtasks3
Or, if you want to get the number of rows you inserted, use a ADODB.Command:
Dim cmd As New ADODB.Command
cmd.ActiveConnection = cnn
cmd.CommandText = addtasks3
Dim rowsInserted As Long
Call cmd.Execute(rowsInserted)
Debug.Print rowsInserted & " rows inserted."
So I have to say thank you to all of you that mentioned On Errors. Your descriptions after rereading finally made it click with me what I did. I had thought that On Error Resume Next only worked for the line it was in front of in the code (I am still very much a VBA newbie learning as I go) and didn't realize that it would follow through the rest of the code. I had one before my first query because if its a new row it wouldn't return anything to check a duplicate against and cause an error. Hence why I wasn't getting error messages.
I added "On Error GoTo 0" after that section and now I'm getting error messages again. Turns out my user is denied use of the Insert Command for that table (even though I modeled it after a table where it does have use), so it looks like I just need to figure that out. Thank you everyone!

Speed Up Moving data from Oracle 11 to MySQL using MS Access

I have a little problem with downloading data from Oracle DB and moving it to the MySQL table.
On Oracle i have only a read privilege. The only task I could execute is Select.
On MySQL i have select/insert/update privilege. Also, there's no problem to change anything in mysql structure - i also have access to mysql root.
Each week I have to download huge amount of data from Oracle and move it to MySQL (for further processing). The best (and the only) solution in my case is to use MS Access.
My vba code snippet looks like (code is usually put into a loop, where I perform some inserts, each for different business site. Executing it in one query sometimes meet no end).
Public Sub DownloadData()
On Error GoTo ErrorTrans
DoCmd.SetWarnings False
Dim strWhere1 As String, strWhere2 As String, strQueryName As String
Dim qdDaneObrRabE As QueryDef, qdDaneObrRabTmp As QueryDef
Dim cnADO As ADODB.Connection
DoCmd.OpenQuery ("qryDaneObrRabCzysc") 'Calling truncate data procedure on mysql table
Set cnADO = CurrentProject.Connection
cnADO.CommandTimeout = 300 '5 minut
Set qdDaneObrRabE = CurrentDb.QueryDefs("qryDaneObrRabE")
strQueryName = "tmpObroty_" & GenerateHash(8)
Set qdDaneObrRabTmp = CurrentDb.CreateQueryDef(strQueryName, "select * from table2;") 'this select is just dummy statement, replaced some lines below
qdDaneObrRabTmp.Connect = qdDaneObrRabE.Connect
qdDaneObrRabTmp.SQL = Replace(qdDaneObrRabE.SQL, "{WHERE1}", strWhere1)
qdDaneObrRabTmp.SQL = Replace(qdDaneObrRabTmp.SQL, "{WHERE2}", strWhere2)
cnADO.Execute "INSERT INTO mysqltable SELECT * FROM " & strQueryName & ";"
Call QueryDefsCleanUp("tmpObroty_")
Call MsgBox("Success")
Set cnADO = Nothing
Exit Sub
ErrorTrans:
Call ActivityLog(Environ("USERNAME"), Now, "DownloadData", True, Err.Number, Err.Description)
End Sub
Please let me know if executing these types of inserts via ADODB is good.
I also tested DAO but i don't see difference.
All of used tables/querydefs are linked tables or pass-through querydefs.

Classic ASP VBScript need dropin replacement for MyConn.Execute( query )

I have a site running on ASP VBScript, and the original code never closes a DB connection. It opens connections as part of "startup" for any given page, then does whatever it does and stops -- but never explicitly closes connections. This is now causing problems where things are crashing at the web server level -- presumably from the lack of garbage collection.
So I want to make a function that acts as a drop-in replacement for all the MyConn.Execute( sqlQuery ) commands throughout the site. I've found some good candidates, but none of them seem to quite work. The most promising appears to be the code below, but when I try to actually use the recordset returned I get an error.
Function GetRS(strSQL)
'this function returns a disconnected RS
'Set some constants
Const adOpenStatic = 3
Const adUseClient = 3
Const adLockBatchOptimistic = 4
'Declare our variables
Dim oConn
Dim strSQL
Dim oRS
'Open a connection
Set oConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
oConn.ConnectionString = "Driver={MySQL ODBC 5.3 Unicode Driver};Server=localhost;User=foo;Password=bar;Database=baz"
oConn.Open
'Create the Recordset object
Set oRS = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
oRS.CursorLocation = adUseClient
'Populate the Recordset object with a SQL query
oRS.Open strSQL, oConn, adOpenStatic, adLockBatchOptimistic
'Disconnect the Recordset
Set oRS.ActiveConnection = Nothing
'Return the Recordset
Set GetRS = oRS
'Clean up...
oConn.Close
oRS.Close
Set oConn = Nothing
Set oRS = Nothing
End Function
'call the function
strSQL = "SELECT * FROM Authors"
set RS = GetRS(strSQL)
(source: https://web.archive.org/web/20211020134116/https://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/080101-1.shtml)
Here's my test code:
Set rs = GetRS( "SELECT `first_name` FROM `users` WHERE `id`=123" )
x = rs( "first_name" )
response.write x
I get the error:
ADODB.Recordset error '800a0cc1'
Item cannot be found in the collection corresponding to the requested name or ordinal.
/test.asp, line 25
Using an ordinal -- rs(0) -- returns the same error.
Looks like an empty recordset to me, but it's a legit Query that does return a record.
Does anyone know why this isn't working, or can point me to other code that will do the job? (Especially with practical usage examples, which the 4guys article lacks.)
My understanding is that a a Recordset is tied to the datasource. When you execute a query, by default, the client (your program) doesn't get the entire contents of the query, but will wait until you actually request the data. That way, you can choose a specific page size, page offset etc. to efficiently select rows from the database without transferring potentially millions of rows over the wire.
As a side-effect of this, if you close the database connection, you will no longer be able to use the Recordset. You must leave the connection open until you are done with it. In the same way, closing the Recordset itself will stop you from being able to interact with it further.
You have two options: copy the data out of the Recordset into your own variables/arrays before closing, or use a different technique to manage your connection. I'll talk about the latter option here.
There is technique which will allow you to open the DB connection once, and ensure it is closed properly by VBScript when it terminates.
Class DbConnectionManager
Private Sub Class_Initialize()
Set oConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
oConn.ConnectionString = "Driver={MySQL ODBC 5.3 Unicode Driver};Server=localhost;User=foo;Password=bar;Database=baz"
oConn.Open
End Sub
Private Sub Class_Terminate()
oConn.Close
End Sub
End Class
Dim connMgr : Set connMgr = New DbConnectionManager
This code snippet is untested, but the general principle is that you start your program by defining a class and creating an instance of it. When a class instance is created, Class_Initialize is called, and when your program ends (or the instance gets removed and garbage-collected), then Class_Terminate will be called. That means oConn.Close should always be called before your program ends, even in the event of an error.
This is a very basic example of how classes work, but you could actually extend the class further and insert your Execute functions into the class itself to encapsulate the database connection details for easier maintenance. If you haven't used classes in VBScript yet but you have a basic understanding of how Object-Oriented programming works, I would highly recommend you try that.
Bonus extra: It looks like you're passing in raw SQL strings. To avoid SQL injection vulnerabilities, don't build your SQL queries dynamically. Instead, use ADO and parameters so any user-created content can be safely passed into the query without security risks. How do I run a parameterized SQL query in classic ASP? And is it secure? W3Schools also has a section on how to use ADO.

DAO.Recordset.Update results in reckord lock

I am trying to run the following code to loop around a recordset and do updates where neccessary.
I have a Microsoft Access database connected to a MySql backend. Whenever I run this code I get the following error:
3197 error: The Microsoft Office Access database engine stopped the process because you and another user are attempting to change the same data at the same time.
The code is below:
Private Sub test()
Dim rs As DAO.Recordset, rsCnt As Long, i As Long
Set rs = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset("qryMyQuery", DB_OPEN_DYNASET)
rs.MoveLast
rsCnt = rs.RecordCount
rs.MoveFirst
For i = 1 To rsCnt
rs.Edit
rs!MyFieldInTable = "test"
rs.Update
Next i
End Sub
I thought the Access database might be corrupt so I pulled an earlier backup but it's doing the same thing which makes me think it's a MySql issue.
We use an identical piece of code on another version of this database linked to a different MySql table and it works fine.
Also, when I open the query the record-set is based on I can edit the data in the query without any issues.
Just to add, on the first loop, rs!MyFieldInTable is updated, then I get the error.
It does not appear that you are moving to another record in the recordset. Simply incrementing i doesn't move to the next record. A more traditional approach would be to iterate over the recordset without the need for your other variables (i and rsCnt).
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset
Set rs = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset("qryMyQuery", DB_OPEN_DYNASET)
rs.moveFirst
Do Until rs.EOF
rs.Edit
rs!FieldNameHere = "test"
rs.Update
rs.MoveNext
Loop
EDIT
After a bit of searching I came across this thread which seems to be similar to your issue. At the bottom of the thread a suggestion is made to modify the ODBC settings for your MySQL DSN by selecting the "Advanced" tab and selecting the option to "Return Matching Rows". The post also says to drop the linked table and then re-link it to your Access database.
I haven't used Access with MySQL in the past, so I have no idea whether this will work or not, so proceed with caution!
You may also try changing your recordset to use the dbOptimistic flag for the recordset locking option to see if that helps at all:
set rs = CurrentDB.OpenRecordSet("qryMyQuery", DB_OPEN_DYNASET, dbOptimistic)
Two things you can try. First, try adding the dbSeeChanges option when opening the recordset:
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset, db As DAO.Database
Set db = Currentdb
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("qryMyQuery", dbOpenDynaset, dbSeeChanges)
Do Until rs.EOF
rs.Edit
rs!FieldNameHere = "test"
rs.Update
rs.MoveNext
Loop
The other option, as #HansUp suggested, is to use a SQL update statement instead of a dynamic recordset. The key there is to open the recordset as a snapshot, so that changes you make to the records do not affect the recordset itself.
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset, db As DAO.Database
Set db = Currentdb
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("qryBatchPayments", dbOpenSnapshot)
Do Until rs.EOF
db.Execute "UPDATE Payments " & _
"SET DCReference='test' " & _
"WHERE PaymentID=" & !PaymentID, dbFailOnError
rs.MoveNext
Loop
I was having the same problem and my solution turned out to be the default value for BIT(1) fields. Access does not like these to be null. Make sure you use either 0 or 1 in mysql for these fields.
I don't have MySQL here to try this against, but it looks to me as if your code is not advancing the recordset after the rs.Update method is executed, so that you are trying to udate the same field in the fierst record.
Add this line after the rs.Update:
rs.MoveNext
Hope that helps.
Try calling OpenRecordset from an object variable set to CurrentDb(), rather than directly from CurrentDb().
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset
Dim db As DAO.Database
Set db = Currentdb
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("qryMyQuery", DB_OPEN_DYNASET)
rs.moveFirst
Do Until rs.EOF
rs.Edit
rs!FieldNameHere = "test"
rs.Update
rs.MoveNext
Loop
The reason for that suggestion is I've found operations on CurrentDb directly can throw an error about "block not set". But I don't get the error when using an object variable instead. And ISTR OpenRecordset was one such operation where this was an issue.
Also, my impression was your approach is a cumbersome way to accomplish the equivalent of:
UPDATE qryMyQuery SET FieldNameHere = "test";
However, I suspect the example is a proxy for a real world situation where the recordset approach is useful. Still that makes me wonder whether you would see the same or a different error when executing the UPDATE statement.
If you continue to have trouble with this, it may help to show us the SQL View for qryMyQuery.
I have discovered that if one tries to save data which are the same as the one already in the MySql record Access will display this kind of error. I've tried some suggestions from this thread but did not help.
The simple solution for this is to save a slightly diffrent data by using a manual time-stamp. Here is an example of heaving a sort order field and setting it to 10, 20, 30...
i = 10
timeStamp = Now()
Do Until Employee.EOF
Employee.Edit
Employee!SortOrderDefault = i
Employee!LastUpdated = timeStamp
Employee.Update
i = i + 10
Employee.MoveNext
Loop
I've tried automatic time-stamp in the MySql table but did not help when the new entry data is the same as the old one.
My little helpful hint is, bits are very, very, very bad data types to use when linking SQL tables to Microsoft Access because only SQL Server understands what a bit is, Microsoft Access has a hard time interpreting what a bit is. Change any bit datatypes to int (integers) and relink your tables that should clear things up. Also, make sure your Booleans always contain a 1 or a 0 (not a yes/no or a true/flase) in your VBA code or your updates will fail to the linked SQL tables because Microsoft Access will try to update them with a True/False or a Yes/No and SQL will not like that.
I also had same problem; i solved them adding those to code using dao.recordset:
**rst.lockedits = true**
rst.edit
rst.fields(...).value = 1 / rst!... = 1
rst.update
**rst.lockedits = false**
this seems fix conflict between just opened data (such as in a form) and updating them with code.
Sorry for my bad english... i read a lot but i never had learn it! I'm just italian.