ADT/ODE: How to Modify RefreshTableLinks Module in Solutions.mdb

• Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit version 7.0
• Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition Tools

SUMMARY

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

The RefreshTableLinks module in the Developer Solutions sample application (Solutions.mdb) demonstrates a method of updating the connection information for linked (attached) tables in an application that uses multiple databases.

This article describes how you can modify the functions used in the modRefreshTableLinks module (or RefreshTableLinks module in Solutions.mdb for Microsoft Access 7.0) to work in a run-time environment.

This article assumes that you are familiar with Visual Basic for Applications and with creating Microsoft Access applications using the programming tools provided with Microsoft Access. For more information about Visual Basic for Applications, please refer to your version of the "Building Applications with Microsoft Access" manual.

MORE INFORMATION

To modify the functions used in the modRefreshTableLinks module to work in a run-time environment, follow these steps while running the retail version of Microsoft Access. Each of these steps is described in detail in the following sections.

1. Import the modRefreshTableLinks (or RefreshTableLinks in Solutions.mdb for Microsoft Access 7.0) module from Solutions.mdb.

2. Modify the sample CheckLinks() function.

3. Modify the sample FindNorthwind() function.

4. Modify the sample RelinkTables() function.

5. Call the ReLinkTables() function in your application's AutoExec macro.

Step 1

Import the modRefreshTableLinks Module from Solutions.mdb:

1. With your database open, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import.

2. In the Look In box, select the Samples folder under your Microsoft Access folder.

3. In the File Name box, select Solutions.mdb, and then click Import.

4. In the Import Objects dialog box, click the Modules tab, select modRefreshTableLinks, and then click OK.

Step 2

Follow these steps to modify the CheckLinks() function to test if the path of your current attachments are correct:

1. Search the CheckLinks() function for the following line:

         Set RST=dbs.OpenRecordset("Products")
   

2. Replace "Products" with the name of a linked table in your application.mdb.

         Set RST=dbs.OpenRecordset("<your table name>")
   

Step 3

Follow these steps to modify the FindNorthwind() function to display the Open File dialog box for the user to locate your back-end database. The function returns the full path to the back-end database:

1. Find the following line in the FindNorthwind() function:

         msaof.strDialogTitle = "Where Is Northwind?"
   

2. Replace "Northwind" with the name of your back-end database:

         msaof.strDialogTitle = "Where Is <your database name>?"
   

Step 4

Follow these steps to modify the RelinkTables() function to look for a table in your linked database and replace references to Northwind.mdb and Solutions.mdb with references to your application:

1. Search the RelinkTables() function for one of the following lines:

         Const conAppTitle = "Developer Solutions"
   

         -or-
   

         Const conAppTitle = "Solutions"
   

2. Replace "Developer Solutions" or "Solutions" with the name of your application database:

         Const conAppTitle = "<your application database>"
   

3. Search for and replace all references to Northwind.mdb, Solutions.mdb, and "Developer Solutions or Solutions." Replace these references with your database names.

Step 5

Call the ReLinkTables() Function in your application's AutoExec Macro or from your SwitchBoard's Load event.

In the Developer Solutions sample application, the ReLinkTables() function is called from the DeveloperSolutions (or Solutions in Microsoft Access 7.0) form's Load event. This function determines whether the table attachments are valid. If the attachments are not valid, the function prompts the user for the location of the linked tables. The ReLinkTables() function could also be called from your AutoExec macro.

The AutoExec macro entries are as follows:

   Condition                         Action
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NOT ReLinkTables()                RunCommand (or DoMenuItem in Microsoft
                                     Access 7.0)

                                     OpenForm

   Action Arguments
   ---------------------------------------------
   RunCommand         or      DoMenuItem
   Command: Close             Menu Bar: Database
                              Menu Name: File
                              Command: Close

   OpenForm
      Form Name: <your SwitchBoard's name>