Importing Database Tables

With the ADOCE control you can copy tables from Microsoft Access .mdb files to an H/PC. Use the Import from Database to Mobile Device dialog box to select which tables and fields to convert to ADOCE databases.

    To import a Microsoft Access database into a device

1. Connect the device to the desktop computer and open the Mobile Devices window.
2. Choose Import Database Tables on the Tools menu in the Mobile Devices window.

   An Open dialog box appears.

3. Select the Microsoft Access .mdb file containing the tables you want to import.

   The Import from Database to Mobile Device dialog box appears. The dialog box lists the tables and fields in the database.

4. Select the check boxes for the tables and fields you want to import, and clear the check boxes for the tables and fields you do not want to import.
5. Select the check box for the Read-Only field for the tables you want to make read-only.
6. Select the Overwrite existing tables and/or data check box if you want to replace tables on the device that have the same name as the tables in the .mdb file.
7. Choose OK to begin the conversion.

As an option, you can accomplish the same conversion by dragging the .mdb file to the device icon in your Mobile Devices window. This initiates the conversion process. Doing this replaces steps 2 and 3 in the procedure.

The Import from Database to Mobile Device dialog box includes the following features:

• Select the tables and fields to copy tree view

  This area of the dialog box provides a hierarchical view of the tables and fields in the Access database that has been selected for conversion. To copy a table or field to a device, select the check box by the field name or table name. During the conversion process each selected Access table becomes a separate database in the Databases directory of the H/PC. By default, all fields except OLE Object fields are automatically selected for conversion.

  All tables list an extra Read-Only field that enables you to make the database table read-only on the device.

• Overwrite existing tables and/or data check box

  If you select this check box, ADOCE replaces an existing table with a converted table if the two tables share the same name. If you do not select this check box, the converter does not overwrite an existing table. Instead, the converter attempts to create a new name for the converted table by appending a number from 0 through 9 to the end of the table name. If it cannot generate a unique table name, it displays a dialog box showing that the conversion of that table has failed.

• Default button

  Choose the Default button to select the default fields for conversion. This automatically selects all fields, except OLE Object fields, for conversion. It clears the Read-Only fields. The defaults apply to all tables in the .mdb file.

• OK button and Cancel button

  The OK button starts the conversion of the selected tables. The Cancel button aborts the conversion.

For each .mdb file imported, the converter generates a log file named Db2ce.txt in the partner directory for the H/PC, usually in C:\Program Files\Windows CE Services\Profiles\devicename.

You may also choose to import tables from an ODBC data source.

    To import data from an ODBC data source into a device

1. Connect the device to the desktop computer and open the Mobile Devices window.
2. Choose Import Database Tables on the Tools menu in the Mobile Devices window.

   An Open dialog box appears.

3. Choose ODBC Database in the Files of Type list box.
4. Choose an ODBC data source.
5. Follow the same procedure for importing a Microsoft Access .mdb file, selecting the tables and fields to import, and other options.

For more information, see Database Conversion Specifics.