ms-accessms-jet-ace

How to extract the schema of an Access (.mdb) database?


I am trying to extract the schema of an .mdb database, so that I can recreate the database elsewhere.

How can I pull off something like this?


Solution

  • It is possible to do a little with VBA. For example, here is a start on creating script for a database with local tables.

    Dim db As Database
    Dim tdf As TableDef
    Dim fld As DAO.Field
    Dim ndx As DAO.Index
    Dim strSQL As String
    Dim strFlds As String
    Dim strCn As String
    
    Dim fs, f
    
        Set db = CurrentDb
    
        Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
        Set f = fs.CreateTextFile("C:\Docs\Schema.txt")
        
        For Each tdf In db.TableDefs
            If Left(tdf.Name, 4) <> "Msys" Then
                strSQL = "strSQL=""CREATE TABLE [" & tdf.Name & "] ("
                
                strFlds = ""
                
                For Each fld In tdf.Fields
                    
                    strFlds = strFlds & ",[" & fld.Name & "] "
                    
                    Select Case fld.Type
                    
                        Case dbText
                            'No look-up fields
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Text (" & fld.Size & ")"
                        
                        Case dbLong
                            If (fld.Attributes And dbAutoIncrField) = 0& Then
                                strFlds = strFlds & "Long"
                            Else
                                strFlds = strFlds & "Counter"
                            End If
        
                        Case dbBoolean
                            strFlds = strFlds & "YesNo"
        
                        Case dbByte
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Byte"
                            
                        Case dbInteger
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Integer"
                        
                        Case dbCurrency
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Currency"
                
                        Case dbSingle
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Single"
                
                        Case dbDouble
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Double"
                
                        Case dbDate
                            strFlds = strFlds & "DateTime"
                
                        Case dbBinary
                            strFlds = strFlds & "Binary"
                
                        Case dbLongBinary
                            strFlds = strFlds & "OLE Object"
                            
                        Case dbMemo
                            If (fld.Attributes And dbHyperlinkField) = 0& Then
                                strFlds = strFlds & "Memo"
                            Else
                                strFlds = strFlds & "Hyperlink"
                            End If
                            
                        Case dbGUID
                            strFlds = strFlds & "GUID"
                            
                    End Select
                
                Next
        
                strSQL = strSQL & Mid(strFlds, 2) & " )""" & vbCrLf & "Currentdb.Execute strSQL"
                
                f.WriteLine vbCrLf & strSQL
            
                'Indexes
                For Each ndx In tdf.Indexes
                
                    If ndx.Unique Then
                        strSQL = "strSQL=""CREATE UNIQUE INDEX "
                    Else
                        strSQL = "strSQL=""CREATE INDEX "
                    End If
                    
                    strSQL = strSQL & "[" & ndx.Name & "] ON [" & tdf.Name & "] ("
                    
                    strFlds = ""
    
                    For Each fld In tdf.Fields
                        strFlds = strFlds & ",[" & fld.Name & "]"
                    Next
                        
                    strSQL = strSQL & Mid(strFlds, 2) & ") "
                    
                    strCn = ""
                    
                    If ndx.Primary Then
                        strCn = " PRIMARY"
                    End If
                    
                    If ndx.Required Then
                        strCn = strCn & " DISALLOW NULL"
                    End If
                    
                    If ndx.IgnoreNulls Then
                        strCn = strCn & " IGNORE NULL"
                    End If
                    
                    If Trim(strCn) <> vbNullString Then
                        strSQL = strSQL & " WITH" & strCn & " "
                    End If
                    
                    f.WriteLine vbCrLf & strSQL & """" & vbCrLf & "Currentdb.Execute strSQL"
                Next
            End If
        Next
            
        f.Close