Re: Programmatically building an MS-Access DB

In the spirit of TIMTOWTDI, you could create a data set in a format that Access reads natively like dBase III. It is a bit more work but you get the added flexibility of having the output in a ubiquitous format that most programs, spreadsheets, databases, word processors and the like, can read easily. Corion has a description of the dBase header format at http://www.corion.net/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/display/Format:DBase%20III. Once the header is built, the data is just appended sequentially with one byte added at the beginning for a deleted record flag.

PJ
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Comment on Re: Programmatically building an MS-Access DB

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Re^2: Programmatically building an MS-Access DB by legato (Monk) on Feb 25, 2005 at 14:30 UTC
That is an interesting thought. I had considered using the CPAN module XBase to generate dbf files, as I've had luck with that before. Unfortunately, the target audience for the delivery of these files is not tech-savvy, nor particularly bright. Think PHB (heh. Nearly typed 'PHP' ;P). The number one problem with generating dbf files (which are, incidentally, smaller than mdb) is that the users can't just click to open in thier browser or desktop. Yes, I could just say "open it with Access", but the last time I did something like that (TSV files and Excel) it caused me far too many headaches. Thanks for making the suggestion, though, as future querants will probably want to do that instead of bothering with the DAO annoyance I've got now. ++ from me! Anima Legato `.oO all things connect through the motion of the mind`	[reply]

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Re^2: Programmatically building an MS-Access DB
by legato (Monk) on Feb 25, 2005 at 14:30 UTC

That is an interesting thought. I had considered using the CPAN module XBase to generate dbf files, as I've had luck with that before. Unfortunately, the target audience for the delivery of these files is not tech-savvy, nor particularly bright. Think PHB (heh. Nearly typed 'PHP' ;P).

The number one problem with generating dbf files (which are, incidentally, smaller than mdb) is that the users can't just click to open in thier browser or desktop. Yes, I could just say "open it with Access", but the last time I did something like that (TSV files and Excel) it caused me far too many headaches.

Thanks for making the suggestion, though, as future querants will probably want to do that instead of bothering with the DAO annoyance I've got now. ++ from me!

Anima Legato
.oO all things connect through the motion of the mind

[reply]