Coming from the world of MySQL, Postgres, MongoDB, Oracle, etc... I've just been given an MS-Access 2003 database with an application inside it; I need to document it.
I'm not worried about the Tables and relationships -- all standard stuff (except for the linked tables to go to outside data sources via ODBC); I'm noting Queries, Macros, Forms, Modules, Reports, and Pages. I'm not necessarily concerned about the data, and although the schema would be nice, it's all the other Microsoft "extras" that MS-Access provides.
At the moment my strategy is to manually build a list of each item and copy'n'paste each query and chunk of VB Code. (ugh) That's
Then it struck me, perhaps there's an MS-Access wizard who knows a faster way to get MS-Access to dump its guts in a more human readable format. At the moment, I can't even select more than one item, nor paste it into notepad.
See this SO post with a customized VBA routine to export all Access objects as raw texts.
It uses the VBA method Application.SaveAsText (an undocumented option).
Conversely, you can use Application.LoadFromText to re-create objects from text file exported using SaveAsText.
Related
I am aware of MS Access - link to query in another Access database from a number to years back. My need is not so simple.
We have a number of MS Access ACCDBs which use linked tables to perform certain activities on linked tables (in both SQL Server DBs and local MDBs/ACCDBs). They consist of a very large number of queries and macros etc.
Each ACCDB references the main database using the linked tables and we have a small number of such databases with different content but identical structure. In the past, we have used some VBA code to re-link the main database. But the content is now significantly different in the main databases that we'd like to create a separate ACCDB for each content type. Naturally, because they are dealing with identical structures, a significant (>75%) portion of the objects (queries, macros, tables etc.) are notionally identical. Is there any way to create a "container" for the common stuff - similar to an ACCDE to hold the common stuff and reduce the maintenance burden as the common stuff "evolves" in one ACCDB (and needs to be distributed to the other ACCDB)?
We use the full range of Access objects - including all "action" query types, macros, linked tables etc.
The referenced link only allows selection queries. It doesn't seem as though "action" queries and macros can use the same kind of syntax to access the items in the external DB.
TIA,
Paolo
[Edit: To be clear, I need to run the stuff in the "library" DB in the context of the main ACCDB. Thus if I have a query "Select * from myTable" stored in the Library DB when I run it, it needs to reference the myTable in the ACCDB not the one in the library (if I even need one there)]
You can add a reference to a "library" database, and that will give you direct access to the code in that database.
To access queries, you can open the external database, but queries will run in their external context, not in the current (local) database. However, the tables you have linked in the current database can be linked as well in the external database. This way it doesn't matter where the query runs.
So I'm moving from MS Access to MySQL:
In MS Access you can store certain INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE queries as objects alongside your tables. Thus for anyone who don't understand computers that well, they can click on the objects and automatically run the queries to alter the master table for various business functions.
In MySQL, where and how do you store these queries, I seem to be only able to make tables. When I write a piece of code using the SQL editor, I can only save it to a remote location (such as my local desktop) and not onto the MySQL database, where it's accessible for my coworkers.
If you can't save it onto the server, how would I write a piece of code and execute it within the database that would be easily usable by others.
Thanks
The answer to this question is going to depend on your environment, your users, and your bandwidth to support any given solution. You are gaining a lot by making the switch from Access to MySQL, however you are losing some of the the WYSIWYG features. (e.g., Access forms that can bind directly to your data source.)
There are many approaches:
If your users are more advanced, simply having access to the database using MySQL Workbench may suffice. From there they would have access to run views, stored procedures, or to create their own custom queries.
Another option would be to script your objects using Python and provide a simple gui using TkInter. Python is generally thought of as an easy to use language; with built in suppport for MySQL and TkInter is its "default" interface.
Using the LAMP architecture is another largely popular paradigm using MySQL as the backend database.
There is also nothing stopping you from using Access to link to your MySQL db using MySQL as an external data source.
I hope this provides enough info to help you begin whittling down your options.
I currently have a database in MySQL, which I'd like to import in MS Access.
Is it possible to do this while keeping all relationships intact (i.e. without exporting to .csv, or by using ODBC)?
I'm a noob in this area so any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
You need to solve two different problems:
Creating an empty MS Access database with a structure that matches the MySQL database structure.
Extracting the data from MySQL and loading it into MS Access.
This is not easy because different SQL databases offer different structural features, different datatypes, and so on. The more complex your use of MySQL is the more likely you'll run into some show-stopper during the conversion (for instance, Access doesn't support triggers at all). Conversely if you're using MySQL as a simple data store you may find the conversion fairly easy.
To get an MS Access database with the same structure as your MySQL database, your best bet is to find a database definition / diagramming tool that offers reverse engineering and supports both MySQL and MS Access. Use it to reverse engineer your MySQL database into a database diagram, then change the underlying database to MS Access and use the tool to generate a database.
Check out Dezign For Databases which (on paper, anyway) offers the features you would need to do this.
To pump the data across, there are any number of tools. This kind of operation is generically referred to as ETL (Extract, Translate, Load).
Do you mean SQL Server? A good starting point might be to check out SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), which can be used for transferring data around like that.
Google will also be helpful, check out the first result:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/237980
By the way, you said ".sql" in your question: a .SQL file is a script file, which could do anything from create a database, insert data, drop table, delete data, or given the right permissions, call system procedures and reboot a machine, format a drive, send an email.. Just for ref, .SQL files aren't the storage format used by SQL Server.
While you can script your database's schema into script files via something like SQLyog, you will find that the syntax varies enough from database to database (MySQL to Access, in your case) that you can't directly apply the scripts.
With much effort a conversion script could be created by editing the script (perhaps automated with a program, depending on the resulting script size). I think you would be better served using ODBC to copy the tables (and data) and then extracting and re-applying the relationships from the generated script by hand. Time consuming, but also a one time operation I would hope.
When both systems are the same database, there are tools that can do the comparison and script generation (TOAD for MySQL and RedGate Compare for Microsoft SQL), but they don't do cross database work (at least not the ones I am aware of).
If you create a ODBC DSN, you can use TransferDatabase to import from your MySQL database. You can do it manually with the GET EXTERNAL DATA command (or whatever it is in A2007/A2010) and see how well it works. It won't get all data types exactly right, but you could do some massaging and likely get it closer to what will work best.
Is there some reason you can't just link to the MySQL tables and use them directly? That is, why do you need to import into Access at all?
Access: run query. Just make sure to adapt the SQL code since every RDMS has its own sintaxis (despite SQL being an ANSI standard).
Hey guys I've written a little module/macro that helps our inventory department, they will need to run the module/macro a few times every month. They receive the databases from out in the field these are exported from some 3rd party inventory tracking system we have.
My question, is there any way to install this module/macro outside of the db file but still within access so that the inventory management team does not have to open vb editor, import the module, create a new macro, name it, set it up properly to execute the function?
The module/macro does not need to be changed for any new database that comes in.
Basically they need to be able to open any database received by the field and have this functionality in the module/macro available to them without having to set this. Is this possible?
You could look at my article for vb123.com:
Using Database Library Files in Your Access Application
The thinking there is that you can put access objects in a library file (still an mdb or mde file, or any of the new access file types) and then by just adding a reference to the file in your VBE project, you get that functionality made available to you.
It works with forms, reports, queries, classes, etc. To be honest, I haven't tried it with macros, but don't see a reason why it wouldn't work.
The beauty is that reusable functionality is packaged into one file, that is still just a plain old access file.
If you had the inclination, you could also write an access add in that basically calls your macro in the library.
We did this with a product for making dealing with SQL much easier in Access, and it has worked for years with Access installations all over the world. You can install the add in using a professional installation package such as wise installation, making it a pretty seamless experience for the end user of your macro. However, there is a considerable overhead in writing this kind of setup in a professional way. Depends on what your users need, I suppose.
Perhaps you are thinking of VBScript or a back-end, front-end set up?
You can use VBScript to perform actions on an Access database, through the Access object, with ADO and so on. The script can either accept command line input, request information, or run against any database in the current directory.
With back-end front-end, the new database becomes the back-end and the Access file with your macro is the front-end. Your macro should ask the user for the name of the back-end file and either use that with the Access object or link the tables, according to what is needed to be done.
I've been tasked with finding a suitable tool to decompile MDE files. The MDEs were created by staff who have since left (familar story eh?) and we do not have access to the originally MDB files.
The reason we need access to the original code is that the data source is changing (the backend as well as some of the table and queries) and we need a way to update queries. An example of a change, in a SELECT statement where is the WHERE clause looks for zero as a string ("0") rather than an integer.
I'm aware that unless you use the services of people like EverythingAccess.com its unlikely you will ever get the source code back.
My main query is to ask for alternative methods to decompiling code. An example of the kinds of methods I'm thinking about is to spy on the traffic between the app the the ODBC DSN using tcpdump. I might then be able to write code to translate the data source queries between the old and new systems.
Ideally I'd prefer a solution that is application centric rather than one that analyses all network traffic.
I should add one caveat, no doubt most of you are thinking the best solution is to rewrite the code, based on its perceived functionality. This is the option we're not considering (at the moment).
Queries and linked tables can be changed in an MDE.
Alternatively see Converting a Microsoft Access MDE file back into an MDB file. Section 2 for some tips
I see you're already aware of MDE to MDB Conversion Service for Microsoft Access Wayne has stated he will require proof that you own the code.