How to test if item exists in recordset? - ms-access

Question

I have a crosstab query that is being loaded into a recordset. I'm then writing the query fields to an Excel spreadsheet. The problem is that a field may not exist based on the query results.
For example, I have the following line:
oSheet5.Range("F1").Value = rsB2("AK")
...which would write the value of the recordset item named "AK" to the spreadsheet. But if "AK" doesn't exist, I get an error Item not found in this collection.
How I can I test to see if there's an item named "AK"?
I tried...
If rsB2("AK") Then
oSheet5.Range("F" & Count).Value = rsB2("AK")
End If
...but that didn't work.
I also tried...
If rsB2("AK") Is Nothing Then
oSheet5.Range("F" & Count).Value = ""
Else
oSheet5.Range("F" & Count).Value = rsB2("AK")
End If
...and still the same error.
There are 50+ items/fields to check .. all states in USA plus a few extras.
Thanks!

Answer 1

You can use Recordset.FindFirst Method (DAO) take a look here or here
Small example:
Sub FindOrgName()
Dim dbs As DAO.Database
Dim rst As DAO.Recordset
'Get the database and Recordset
Set dbs = CurrentDb
Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordset("tblCustomers")
'Search for the first matching record
rst.FindFirst "[OrgName] LIKE '*parts*'"
'Check the result
If rst.NoMatch Then
MsgBox "Record not found."
GotTo Cleanup
Else
Do While Not rst.NoMatch
MsgBox "Customer name: " & rst!CustName
rst.FindNext "[OrgName] LIKE '*parts*'"
Loop
'Search for the next matching record
rst.FindNext "[OrgName] LIKE '*parts*'"
End If
Cleanup:
rst.Close
Set rst = Nothing
Set dbs = Nothing
End Sub

Answer 2

You could add an error handler to catch the item not found error ... ignore it and/or do something else instead.
Or if the first recordset field always maps to the first sheet column regardless of the field's name, you can reference it by its ordinal position: rsB2(0)
Or you could examine the recordset's Fields collection to confirm the field name is present before attempting to retrieve its value.
After you open the recordset, load a dictionary with its field names. This code sample uses late binding. I included comment hints in case you want early binding. Early binding requires you to set a reference for Microsoft Scripting Runtime.
Dim objDict As Object 'Scripting.Dictionary
'Set objDict = New Scripting.Dictionary
Set objDict = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Dim fld As DAO.Field
For Each fld In rsB2.Fields
objDict.Add fld.Name, vbNullString
Next
Then later you can use the dictionary's Exists method to your advantage.
If objdict.Exists("AK") = True Then
oSheet5.Range("F1").Value = rsB2("AK")
End If