the above should really only be attempted for those who have nothing to do. the real solution relies on using 'the most excellent', DBD-AD0-2.83 (the current version) and look what we read in the *suprise* README file ....

$sth = $dbh->ado_open_schema( $QueryType, @Criteria ) or die ...;

This method can be used to obtain database schema information from the provider. It returns a valid statement handle upon success.

the DBD::ADO perldoc online is here.

so what does this mean? It means that you can now find out the schema programatically for unknown Access databases. I found this by checking installing MSDN, searching on COM and IDBSchemaRowset. In an article, Data Access for the Masses Through OLE DB, José A. Blakeley, MSDN. You can get the catalog information through the IDBSchemaRowset interface.

In ADO the connection object supports this interface (OpenSchema). Behind this is a COM explanation. For those interested in this try reading OLE DB for the ODBC Programmer, Michael Pizzo and Jeff Cochran, MSDN.

This means you can query the "... types, tables, triggers, views etc ..." for any given Access database.