You can certainly import the data.
What I normally do is simply write some code to 'update' the structures. For
example, to add a new field to a table, we go:
' add our new default user field
Dim nF As DAO.Field
strFromDB = CurrentProject.FullName
strToDB = strBackEnd
Set db = OpenDatabase(strToDB)
Set nT = db.TableDefs("tblEmployee")
nT.Fields.Append nT.CreateField("DefaultUser", dbText, 25)
nT.Fields.Refresh
Set nT = Nothing
' so, the above simply added a field called Defaultuser of 25, and type
text.
however, to add a complete new table, I find it too much work to add a
zillion createField commands (and, further, the need to create a 'link' to
the back end). So, what I do is simply develop..add the new table to the
back end..Fix, work, add new code. When I am done, I simply import that new
table to THE NEW FRONT END that I distribute to users (I also append the
letter 'C' to table name). Then, during my "upgrade" code, I go:
strFromDB = CurrentProject.FullName
strToDB = strBackEnd
DoCmd.TransferDatabase acExport, "Microsoft Access", strToDB, acTable,
"tblGroupRemindC", "tblGroupRemind", True
The above is only one line of code, and it copies a whole table (obviously
this is a 'new' table we added to our application), from the Front end to
the BE. I have already placed the new link in the Front end..so I don't even
have to add that.
The tricky part is when you have to also add enforced relasonships. You can
do that also. Lets assume we added the above tblGroupRemind, but I want it
to be relational, and have records in this table deleted when I delete a
table "contacts" record. The code would be:
' add relatinsetup
Dim nF As DAO.Field
Dim nT As DAO.TableDef
Dim nR As DAO.Relation
Set nT = db.TableDefs("tblGroupRemind")
Set nR = db.CreateRelation("ContactIDRI", "Contacts",
"tblGroupRemind", dbRelationDeleteCascade + dbRelationLeft)
nR.Fields.Append nR.CreateField("ContactID") ' parent table PK
(Contacts)
nR.Fields("ContactID").ForeignName = "ContactID" ' child table FK
(tblGroupRemind)
db.Relations.Append nR
db.Relations.Refresh
Set nR = Nothing
myPbar.IncOne
db.Close
