ACC: How to Import a Data File to a Control on a Form

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article demonstrates how to write the contents of a text data file to a control on a form.

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.

NOTE: Visual Basic for Applications is called Access Basic in Microsoft Access versions 1.x and 2.0. For more information about Access Basic, please refer to the "Introduction to Programming" manual in Microsoft Access version 1.x or the "Building Applications" manual in Microsoft Access version 2.0

MORE INFORMATION

The sample code below will read the contents of your Config.sys file into a text box on a form. Note that you can substitute any text file for the Config.sys file in this example.

1. Create a new, blank form.

2. Add a text box to the form. Set its Name property to My_Text1. Size the text box large enough to fit the contents of the text file that it will contain.

   NOTE: In Microsoft Access version 1.x, the Name property is called the ControlName property.

3. Add a command button to the form. Set the button's properties as follows:

         OnClick: =WriteFile()
         Caption: Import Text
   

   NOTE: In Microsoft Access version 1.x, the OnClick property is called the OnPush property.

4. Save the form as Form1.

5. Create a module and type the following line in the Declarations section:

         Option Explicit
   

6. Type the following procedure:

         Function WriteFile ()
            'These variables store the text of the file
            Dim Linedata as String
            Dim WholeFile as String
            'Open the file
            Open "C:\CONFIG.SYS" For Input As #1
            'Continue reading until end-of-file
            Do While Not EOF(1)
               'Read a line of data
               Line Input #1, Linedata
               'Store each line of data in the WholeFile variable
               WholeFile = WholeFile + Chr(13) & Chr(10) + Linedata
            Loop
            'Transfer contents of file to text box on form
            Forms!Form1![My_Text1] = WholeFile
            'Close the data file
            Close #1
         End Function
   
   

7. Open Form1 in Form view and click the Import Text button.

   Forms!Form1![My_Text1] = Null   'Erases the text.

Keywords          : kbprg PgmHowTo
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbhowto