Microsoft KB Archive/88764

= ACC: How to Import Several dBASE Databases at Once (1.x/2.0) =

Article ID: 88764

Article Last Modified on 5/9/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 2.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q88764



Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.



SUMMARY
This article explains how you can import dBASE databases in a batch process by using Access Basic.

Many new Microsoft Access users want to import data immediately from the systems they are currently using. The Import dialog box in Microsoft Access enables you to import one table at a time, which usually is sufficient. However, if you have numerous tables to import, or if you want to import multiple tables regularly, this process enables you to do so more quickly.

This article assumes that you are familiar with Access Basic and with creating Microsoft Access applications using the programming tools provided with Microsoft Access. For more information about Access Basic, please refer to the &quot;Introduction to Programming&quot; manual in Microsoft Access version 1.x, or the &quot;Building Applications&quot; manual, Chapter 3, &quot;Introducing Access Basic&quot; in version 2.0.



MORE INFORMATION
This process uses an Access Basic procedure and a batch table. The procedure is designed for importing only dBASE databases, but you can modified it to accommodate other file formats.

The batch table lists the tables that you want to import. The Access Basic procedure reads the table and imports each foreign table listed there. To create the table and the Access Basic procedure, follow these steps:   Create a table called Batch Import with the following structure:      Field name         Type   Length Source Directory  Text   50 Source Database   Text   50 Imported Name     Text   50 Type of Table     Text   50   Enter information in the new Batch Import table about the tables you want to import. You should fill out the fields in the Batch Import table as follows:

 Source Directory: This is the full path for the location of the foreign database file (for example, C:\DBASE). Source Database: This is the name and extension of the dBASE database you want to import (for example, CUSTOMER.DBF). Imported Name: This is the name you want the table to have after it is imported into Microsoft Access (for example, Customers). Table Type: This can be either dBASE III or dBASE IV. Specify dBASE III for both dBASE III and dBASE III PLUS databases.</li></ul>

For example, to import a dBASE IV database called EMPLOYEE.DBF from the C:\DBASE4 directory and a dBASE III database called ORDERS.DBF from the D:\DBASE3\DATA directory, fill out the fields in the Batch Import table as follows: <pre class="fixed_text">     Source Directory   Source Database  Imported Name   Table Type --     C:\DBASE4          EMPLOYEE.DBF     Employee Table  dBASE IV      D:\DBASE3\DATA     ORDERS.DBF       Orders Table    dBASE III </li>  Create a new module, and type the following code.

NOTE: In the following example, an underscore (_) at the end of a line is used as a line-continuation character. Remove the underscore from the end of the line when re-creating this example. Sub BatchImport Dim B_DB As Database, B_TBL As Table Set B_DB = CurrentDB Set B_TBL = B_DB.OpenTable(&quot;Batch Import&quot;)

DoCmd Hourglass True B_TBL.MoveFirst Do Until B_TBL.EOF DoCmd TransferDatabase A_IMPORT, B_TBL![Type of Table], _ B_TBL![Source Directory], A_TABLE, B_TBL![Source Database], _ B_TBL![Imported Name], False B_TBL.MoveNext Loop DoCmd Hourglass False End Sub </li> Import the foreign databases as follows: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Open a module.</li> From the View menu, choose Immediate Window.</li> Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

BatchImport </li></ol> </li></ol>

The pointer will become an hourglass and remains so until all of your databases are imported. This process may take several minutes, depending on the sizes of the databases.

dBASE III, dBASE III PLUS, and dBASE IV are manufactured by Borland International, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Keywords: kbhowto kb3rdparty KB88764

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