February 13, 2012 at 8:55 am
I just started at a new company, so I am trying to find my way around there database and applications. I am having to do it on my own as they don't have the staff to sit with me, and the staff doesn't really to know what I need to find out anyway.
So here's the deal. We have a MS SQL Server 2000 database (will be upgrading to 2008 R2 in a couple of weeks), we have an "Application" written in Access 2010. The main application references the MS SQL DB, but then we have these "Mini-Applications" which are more for Reporting rather than changing of data. These "Report Applications" use Access DB, the tables are obviously populated somehow from the SQL DB but when it was written items where not named the same, table structures are not the same.
What I need to accomplish. I am supposed to be basically recreating their reporting in SQL Server RS 2008 (will get installed in a couple weeks with SQL 2008 R2), but I am not that savvy in Access (used it a few times 6-7 years ago but not to this extent.). I cannot figure out how to find what is populating the Access tables from the SQL tables.
I have tried:
1. Utilizing the MsysObjects and MsysQueries tables in Access I am trying to find anything referencing the tables in question, but am not quite finding what I am looking for.
2. I can go in design view of one of the reports and see the form that is being called, then I open the form and see what qry is being called, but that query doesn't tell me what populates the tables that are used in the query to create the report.
There are many different Access DBs set up for the many different Access Reporting Applications, so some of the reports/dbs actually reference others, so the Create/Insert queries/procedures could be anywhere. I have tried to go through all of them with the Msys tables, but still nothing.
If anyone can help me out or at least give me another option to try it would be much appreciated.
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 9:34 am
What I need to accomplish. I am supposed to be basically recreating their reporting in SQL Server RS 2008 (will get installed in a couple weeks with SQL 2008 R2), but I am not that savvy in Access (used it a few times 6-7 years ago but not to this extent.). I cannot figure out how to find what is populating the Access tables from the SQL tables.
Access will either be looking at
"local" tables...these are tables that have been populated with data from SQL or
"linked tables"....the tables are linked thro an ODBC DSN connection.
where does the data in SQL come from?...is this a production (eg OLTP) SQL db ..or just a "reporting" db, in which case...how does the data get into SQL?
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 9:42 am
I would expect they used the linked approach to the SQL Server tables using ODBC. If you look at the tables in the Navigation Pane, you should see a globe symbol for each SQL Server table. That assumes of course that the Access database(s) are in the .mdb or .accdb format. If they are in the .adp format then you have a direct connection to the SQL Server tables. Hope that helps get you stated. We do that sort of thing all the time.
Wendell
Colorful Colorado
You can't see the view if you don't climb the mountain!
February 13, 2012 at 9:44 am
The SQL DB is populated through the Main Application-front end in Access but connected to the SQL DB.
The Access Reporting/Applications use:
--SQL Tables
--Access tables that are from other Access DB's (used within other access reporting application)
--Local access tables initially populated from the SQL DB (this is where I am stuck and trying to figure out how these are populated.)
I need to find the connection mapping SQL table/column to Access table/column or find the Queries used to populate the data from SQL to Access.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can see which tables are directly connect to the SQL DB but most of the "Reports" use the Access tables that I am not sure how are initially populated.
I can see which tables are from other Access DBs
I can see which are local Access tables
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 10:30 am
kschwid (2/13/2012)
--Local access tables initially populated from the SQL DB (this is where I am stuck and trying to figure out how these are populated.)I need to find the connection mapping SQL table/column to Access table/column or find the Queries used to populate the data from SQL to Access.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can see which tables are directly connect to the SQL DB but most of the "Reports" use the Access tables that I am not sure how are initially populated.
I can see which tables are from other Access DBs
I can see which are local Access tables
somewhere, some code is being run to update your "local " Access tables.....we cant see what you can see...but are there any "update" buttons , modules, on start up procs that are being run?
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 10:41 am
One of the Report Applications (in Access) that I am looking to recreate some of the reports from, does have a refresh button. I look at the buttons properties and on the event tab it says "on Click" - calls Refresh_Main I click the ... button so it takes me there and I get Figure 1 in the attachment.
I then go to look at that query and its in relation to the user/time, date and database logging. It doesn't call a query to populate tables.
---------------
I am unsure how to find out if it has a module or procedures at start-up.
That's almost what I have been trying to figure out how to see. Because that is my assumption as well is its something at start up.
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 10:42 am
kschwid (2/13/2012)
One of the Report Applications (in Access) that I am looking to recreate some of the reports from, does have a refresh button. I look at the buttons properties and on the event tab it says "on Click" - calls Refresh_Main I click the ... button so it takes me there and I get Figure 1 in the attachment.
no attachment ??
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 10:51 am
So sorry...
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 10:59 am
ok...what does query "z_log_refresh" do? the "open query" at the bottom of attachment.
am getting a bit OOMD on this...my Access "skills" were based on VBA not the wonderful world of embedded macros et al 🙂
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 11:06 am
Here is the code in z_log_refresh query
INSERT INTO DATABASE_LOGIN_FILE ( , [TIME], [DATE], [DATABASE], COMPUTER, NOTES )
SELECT Environ("USERNAME") AS , Time() AS [TIME], Date() AS [DATE], "Refresh HD-Stat" AS [DATABASE], Environ("COMPUTERNAME") AS COMPUTER, "LOGIN" AS NOTES;
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 11:12 am
hmmm....without having your db in front of me, it is very difficult to help you further.
one idea....is there a "start up / splash" form that is called when the Access db is opened?....does this have any VBA code behind it...look for form events on "on load" and "on open"
possibly other forms may similar events.
sorry,,,but am running out of ideas.
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 11:16 am
I will try to look into those things. Thank you for all of your help.
It's a weird situation and I wish I had someone here at my work that could explain what they coded! Not sure why they did what they did anyway. If you can read from SQL why put it in Access, since there is a limit in access anyway.
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
February 13, 2012 at 11:45 am
kschwid (2/13/2012)
I will try to look into those things. Thank you for all of your help.It's a weird situation and I wish I had someone here at my work that could explain what they coded! Not sure why they did what they did anyway. If you can read from SQL why put it in Access, since there is a limit in access anyway.
I wish you well....picking up someone else's code is never easy.....especially when there is no documentation / user help etc.
one comment on "If you can read from SQL why put it in Access"...dependent upon the app, you may well find better peformance from local tables than with direct SQL reads....but of course that requires the local tables to be updated 😉
________________________________________________________________
you can lead a user to data....but you cannot make them think
and remember....every day is a school day
February 13, 2012 at 12:24 pm
INSERT INTO DATABASE_LOGIN_FILE ( , [TIME], [DATE], [DATABASE], COMPUTER, NOTES )
SELECT Environ("USERNAME") AS , Time() AS [TIME], Date() AS [DATE], "Refresh HD-Stat" AS [DATABASE], Environ("COMPUTERNAME") AS COMPUTER, "LOGIN" AS NOTES;That query appears to be saving the details of the user, computer, in a table called 'Database_Login_File" which may or may not be a linked SQL Server table. As such it should appear as an Append Query in the Navigation Pane. If you want to see what queries are being used to append SQL data into local tables, sort the queries by type in the Nav Pane, and then look through queries that append to local tables - you will have to open each and check the properties - from linked SQL Server tables.
I agree with J Livingston SQL that it's quite unusual to see an apparently sophisticated database using macros that way, although the macro capability was enhanced significantly in Access 2010. Is it possible that a portion of the data is being upsized to a web or SharePoint app? The fact that there are many databases that apparently connecting to the same database for reporting purposes also is a concern. We typically put all the reports into a single database and then distribute the same front-end to all users, limiting who can see what reports with the menu and security. Otherwise you have a change control nightmare as soon as tables are modified or added.
Sorting through such a situation is essentially a long and tedious process - I've done it a number of times in the past 20 years, and it just takes time and research.
Wendell
Colorful Colorado
You can't see the view if you don't climb the mountain!
February 13, 2012 at 12:56 pm
The "Database_Login_File" is an Access table not a SQL table. It is from a different Access DB and just referenced in the one I was currently trying to pick apart.
I was hoping to find a way to get the information I needed without looking at every query by hand in all the Access environments(At Least 20 environments and probably 50-100 queries per environment.).
I just don't get why there isn't a simple way to show how Access and SQL relate to each other.
Respectfully,Kate SchwidSoftware Developer/Data AnalystOzaukee, WI
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