Updating a backend

You have to create a separate workspace that refers to your backend. There you can do the same as if you would do in the frontend, even creating tables or adding fields



Set myDBEngine = New PrivDBEngine
Dim wrkJet As Workspace
Dim DBServ As Database
   
myDBEngine.SystemDB = "C:\Test\Test.mdb"

Set wrkJet = myDBEngine.CreateWorkspace("WS", UserName, Password)
Set DBServ = wrkJet.OpenDatabase(C:\Test\Test.mdb", True)
 

Andy

you can do it without creating a workspace as well,
just by adding the database you want to manipulate

for example
database at c:\test
table : mytable
new column : mynewcolumn

ALTER TABLE [c:\test].[mytable] ADD COLUMN mynewcolumn Text(50)

best regards,
yp.

Mavreich,

  As YP indicated, you can do a lot with SQL.  Of course there is always DAO methods as well.  Mostly it depends on the version your using.  It was only from A2000 and up that the SQL support for DML operations was added.

  The on-line help is full of examples.  Here is one:

Sub AlterTableX1()

     Dim dbs As Database

     ' Modify this line to include the path to Northwind
     ' on your computer.
     Set dbs = OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")

     ' Add the Salary field to the Employees table
     ' and make it a Currency data type.
     dbs.Execute "ALTER TABLE Employees " _
          & "ADD COLUMN Salary CURRENCY;"

     dbs.Close

End Sub

This example removes the Salary field from the Employees table.

Sub AlterTableX2()

     Dim dbs As Database

     ' Modify this line to include the path to Northwind
     ' on your computer.
     Set dbs = OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")

     ' Delete the Salary field from the Employees table.
     dbs.Execute "ALTER TABLE Employees " _
          & "DROP COLUMN Salary;"

     dbs.Close

End Sub


  The MSKB (Microsoft Knowledge base) is also a great source for examples.  Goto support.Microsoft.com.  For example, here's code from one article that shows how to add a Autonumber field via DAO:

      '***************************************************************
      ' FUNCTION: AddCounter()
      '
      ' PURPOSE:  Programmatically adds an AutoNumber field to an
      '           existing table.
      '
      ' ARGUMENTS:
      '
      '    TName: The name of the table.
      '    FName: The name of the new AutoNumber field.
      '
      ' RETURNS:  True (error was encountered) or
      '           False (no error) as an integer.
      '
      '***************************************************************

      Function AddCounter (TName As String, FName As String) As Integer
         Dim DB As Database, TDef As TableDef, Fld As Field

         ' Get the current database.
         Set DB = CurrentDb()
         ' Open the tabledef to which the counter field will be added.
         Set TDef = DB.TableDefs(TName)

         ' Create a new AutoNumber field of type LONG
         ' with the automatic increment attribute.
         Set Fld = TDef.CreateField(FName, dbLong)
         Fld.Attributes = dbAutoIncrField

         ' If you are using version 2.0, replace the
         ' two lines above with the following two lines.
         ' Set Fld = TDef.CreateField(FName, DB_LONG)
         ' Fld.Attributes = DB_AUTOINCRFIELD

         ' Trap for any errors.
         On Error Resume Next

         ' Append the new field to the tabledef.
         TDef.fields.Append Fld

         ' Check to see if an error occurred.
         If Err Then
            AddCounter = False
         Else
            AddCounter = True
         End If

         DB.Close

      End Function

  Anything else you need?

Jim.

Hi JDettman and other experts,

Thankyou for you help.  I have had a look at all your suggestions but I am still unable to get it to work.

JDettman your examples are the closet i have got but i am getting hung up on 1 error.  I forgot to mention that the backend is protected by a password.  I have tried every way i can think off to pass the password through when trying to alter the table.  I keep getting an invalid password error.  I know what the password is but can not see where i put it into the above example to get it to work.


Looking forward to your advice.

Regards
Mavreich

Hi JDettman,

This morning I am a very happy man.  Thankyou very much for that example.  Of all the places I tried putting the password that was not one of them.  lol

A Thankyou to you all for your assistance. It is truly appreciated.

Regards
Mavreich