NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Moving Data In and Out of Microsoft Access A Presentation for the Microsoft Access SIG of the North Texas PC User Group by Larry Linson, Oct. 15, © Copyright 2001, 2011 by L.M. Linson, all rights reserved

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Today’s Agenda u Storing external files (can be ‘unknown format’) in BLOBs u Recreating the external file from a BLOB u What topics do you want to cover in future meetings?

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Storing External Files in Access DB, and recreating them later Note: Works with files of any type or format

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Image File as Example u “Moving Data” Database –frmImageBlobDataEntry to acquire image »Uses Common Dialog to Obtain File »Displays Picture »User clicks button to validate selection »Executes Procedure “ReadBLOB” u In Module “basBLOB” u Step through file, using “AppendChunk” to store into the OLE Object type field of record

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Image File as Example, cont. u “Moving Data” Database –frmImageBlobSummaryList to show image »Double Click invokes “OpenDetailForm” u In Form’s Module to open u frmImageBLOBDetail –Open event recreates an image file using –“WriteBLOB” procedure to re-create file –Sets re-created file as Picture property –Of Image Control to Display

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Image File as Example, cont. u “WriteBLOB” Procedure –From the OLE Object containing BLOB »Calculates Number of Blocks u and leftover blocks »Generates Temporary File Name u Obtain data from BLOB and u Writes the external file

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 What did he say? u External File can be stored in DB –Store as Binary Large Object (BLOB) –File type is immaterial »Image file used as example »Could be any file type –AppendChunk and GetChunk ops »Handle ‘pieces’ of data »Construct and extract from OLE Object field u Could also use Memo field

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 What topics do you want? u Recent has been “developer level”, VBA code u Earlier we reviewed “basics” u What should be next –Access 2010? General, incl. “classic”? –Basic – end-user features? –Advanded – developer features?

NTPCUG Microsoft Access SIG Oct. 15, 2011 Thank you u for your kind attention  Please come again u And, please... –Gently wake your neighbor before leaving