How to List the Fields in a Table & the Tables in a Database
ID: Q109219
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 3.0
SUMMARY
Below are two examples showing how to list all the fields in a table and
all the tables in a database.
- Example One shows how to list all the fields in a database table by
using the Fields collection of a table's TableDef object. It also shows
how to list the names of all tables in a database.
- Example Two shows how to list all the fields in a database table using
the ListFields method. The ListFields method creates a Snapshot with one
record for each field in a specified recordset.
The technique used in Example One is more efficient than Example Two.
MORE INFORMATION
Example One: How to List the Fields in a Table Using the Fields Collection
- Start a new project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
- Add two list boxes to Form1.
- Double-click the form to open the code window. Add the following code to
the Form Load event:
Sub Form_Load ()
Set MyDb = OpenDatabase("BIBLIO.MDB")
' Set AllTableDefs to definitions of all tables in the database:
Set AllTableDefs = MyDb.TableDefs
' Display names of all tables in database:
For j = 0 To AllTableDefs.Count - 1
List1.AddItem AllTableDefs(j).Name
Next
End Sub
- Double-click the List1 list box and enter the following code in its
Click event:
Sub List1_Click ()
' Delete any existing entries in List2 box:
Do While list2.ListCount > 0
list2.RemoveItem 0
Loop
' Get the definition of the single table currently selected in List1:
Set SingleTableDef = MyDb(List1.List(List1.ListIndex))
' Display the properties of each field in the table:
For j = 0 To SingleTableDef.Fields.Count - 1
list2.AddItem "Field item number " & Val(j) & ":"
' Display the name of the field in the table selected in List1:
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).Name
' or use the following since Fields are the default collection:
' List2.AddItem SingleTableDef(j).Name
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).Size ' Size of field.
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).Type ' Type of field.
' If field is an index, list the name of the index:
If j <= SingleTableDef.Indexes.Count - 1 Then
list2.AddItem "Index name: " & SingleTableDef.Indexes(j).Name
End If
' The Value property is only valid if part of a recordset:
' list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(i).Value
' The other 5 properties are valid for a field of TableDef object:
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).OrdinalPosition
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).CollatingOrder
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).Attributes
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).SourceField
list2.AddItem SingleTableDef.Fields(j).SourceTable
list2.AddItem " "
Next
End Sub
- From the File menu, choose New Module. Then enter the following code in
the General Declarations section:
Global MyDb As Database
Global SingleTableDef As TableDef
Global AllTableDefs As TableDefs
- Start the program. Click any table name in the first list box. In the
second list box, the program displays all the fields and field
properties for that table. Close the form to end the program.
NOTE: Some MSys* tables (such as MSysACEs) have no fields.
Example Two: How to List the Fields in a Table Using the ListFields Method
- Start a new project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
- Add a list box to Form1. Size the list box to fill all of Form1.
- Double-click the form to open the code window. Add the following code to
the Form Load event:
Sub Form_Load ()
Dim ListSet As Snapshot, MyDB As database, MyTable As table
Set MyDB = OpenDatabase("BIBLIO.MDB")
Set MyTable = MyDB.OpenTable("Publishers") ' Open Table.
Set ListSet = MyTable.ListFields() ' Put field info in ListSet.
MyTable.Close ' Close Table.
Do While Not ListSet.EOF
list1.AddItem "Name: " & ListSet("Name")
list1.AddItem "type: " & ListSet("Type")
list1.AddItem "size: " & ListSet("Size")
list1.AddItem "Attributes: " & ListSet("Attributes")
list1.AddItem "SourceTable: " & ListSet("SourceTable")
list1.AddItem "SourceField: " & ListSet("SourceField")
list1.AddItem " "
ListSet.MoveNext
Loop
End Sub
The above program uses the BIBLIO.MDB database that ships with Visual
Basic version 3.0
- Start the program (or press the F5 key). Close the form to end the
program.
The above program lists the following field structure for the Publishers
table in the BIBLIO.MDB database:
Name: PubID
type: 4
size: 4
Attributes: 33
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: PubID
Name: Name
type: 10
size: 50
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Name
Name: Company Name
type: 10
size: 255
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Company Name
Name: Address
type: 10
size: 50
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Address
Name: City
type: 10
size: 20
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: City
Name: State
type: 10
size: 10
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: State
Name: Zip
type: 10
size: 15
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Zip
Name: Telephone
type: 10
size: 15
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Telephone
Name: Fax
type: 10
size: 15
Attributes: 32
SourceTable: Publishers
SourceField: Fax
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