vbams-accessdecompiler

How does one decompile and recompile a database application?


I have an Access database application and I would like to know the proper way of decompiling and recompiling it.


Solution

  • The accepted answer is great, but it's a little impractical to create a shortcut for every database.

    You can save this as a powershell module.

    #for use with MSAccess 2010
    
    Function Decompile-AccessDB{
        param ([string]$dbFileName)
    
        [string]$argument = '"' + $dbFileName + '"' + "/Decompile"
        Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\MSACCESS.EXE' -ArgumentList $argument
    }
    

    Then call it like this:

    Decompile-AccessDB -Path "C:\Path\to\some.accdb"
    

    This allows you to quickly and easily decompile any db from the power shell command line.

    Note that you still need to hold down the Shift key when you run this to bypass the application startup.