Ms Access and win32 ole

sumit07 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi perl monks, I badly need your help with this. I want to get the custom properties of ms Access files. I am able to open .mdb files but not .accdb files. Can any one help me with this.

 my $filename = "database.accdb"; # $ARGV[0];
print $filename."\n";
$oAccess = Win32::OLE->new('Access.Application') or die qq{Couldn't st
+art new Access instance!};
      # Open Access File
$oDatabase = $oAccess->DBEngine->Workspaces(0)->OpenDatabase($filename
+);
[download]

When I tryto open .accdb files it says

OLE exception from "DAO.Workspace":

Could not find file 'database.accdb'.

Win32::OLE(0.1709) error 0x800a0bd0
    in METHOD/PROPERTYGET "OpenDatabase" at accessTest.pl
[download]

I also tried this code

 
my $filename = "database.accdb"; # $ARGV[0];
print $filename."\n";
$oAccess = Win32::OLE->new('Access.Application') or die qq{Couldn't st
+art new Access instance!};
# Open Access File
$oDatabase = $oAccess->OpenCurrentDatabase($filename);
[download]

But with this also it says file not found.

Do I need to install any drivers for ms access or any thing like that.

Comment on Ms Access and win32 ole Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Ms Access and win32 ole by Sinistral (Monsignor) on Oct 25, 2012 at 13:55 UTC
Here are some questions that may help: Are your using Access 2007 or 2010? If you're using an older version, it won't open accdb files. Can you run Access the normal way (interactively) and open the file successfully? If you can open it when using the interactive method, what happens if you specify the complete path to the accdb file in your OpenCurrentDatabase call? It's very likely that without the full path Access' current working directory won't be the one where your Perl script and accdb file are located.	[reply]
Re^2: Ms Access and win32 ole by sumit07 (Novice) on Oct 26, 2012 at 08:56 UTC
Thank you for the hint Sinistral I was not giving the whole path. You really helped me. Thanks a ton :)	[reply]
Re^2: Ms Access and win32 ole by sumit07 (Novice) on Oct 26, 2012 at 10:43 UTC
Hi Sinistral I am now trying to open using this code `$oDatabase = $oAccess->DBEngine->OpenCurrentDatabase($filename);` [download] It says invalid argument.Do we need to provide other arguments also. With this code `$oDatabase = $oAccess->DBEngine->OpenDatabase($filename);` It opens fine but the custom properties doesnot get added to the file's custom tab in the database properties. Is there any difference between OpenDatabase and OpenCurrentDatabase. my $filename = 'C:\Documents and Settings\551970\Desktop\database.accd +b'; # $ARGV[0]; print $filename."\n"; $oAccess = Win32::OLE->new('Access.Application') or die qq{Couldn't st +art new Access instance!}; # Open Access File $oDatabase = $oAccess->DBEngine->OpenDatabase($filename); my $new_property = $oDatabase->Containers->Databases->Documents->User +Defined->CreateProperty("Test1",12,"Test"); $oDatabase->Containers->Databases->Documents->UserDefined->Propertie +s->Append($new_property); foreach (in $oDatabase->Containers->Databases->Documents->UserDefined- +>Properties) { #print Dumper($_); print "prop ".$_->Name."\n"; } undef $oDatabase; #undef $oAccess; $oAccess->Quit(); [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^3: Ms Access and win32 ole by Sinistral (Monsignor) on Oct 26, 2012 at 13:50 UTC
Most of my Win32::OLE experience has been with Excel, not Access, but a little Googling found this link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/bb238012(v=office.12).aspx which specifically says that OpenCurrenDatabase is for manipulating Access and opening files, while OpenDatabase returns a Database variable but doesn't actually open the file in the Access window. So for you, you want OpenCurrentDatabse. Beyond that, the best thing I can offer is to check out the documents I linked to, which are the Automation docs for Access 2007 (switch to 2010 if that's what you're using). The other tip I've seen is to record a macro of the task you're trying to achieve and examine the VBA code that Access creates. It looks like you're on your way already to knowing the Perl Win32::OLE to VBA equivalent	[reply]
Re: Ms Access and win32 ole by rpnoble419 (Pilgrim) on Oct 25, 2012 at 11:17 UTC
What is it that you are trying to access? Can you provide a sample of the custom property you want to read?	[reply]
Re: Ms Access and win32 ole by sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Oct 25, 2012 at 13:19 UTC
Hmm, when did they change that file-extension? It’s been `.mdb` forever.	[reply]
Re^2: Ms Access and win32 ole by Sinistral (Monsignor) on Oct 25, 2012 at 13:43 UTC
They created a new file extension, they didn't change it. Office / Access 2007 introduced the accdb file extension and database type.	[reply]
Re^3: Ms Access and win32 ole by sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Oct 25, 2012 at 16:09 UTC
Ahh... thank you. http://databases.about.com/od/access/a/accdb.htm	[reply]


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