need access to read to SQL db and Access frontend

[Janis]

We have a regional dbA. I was hired to create a new dbB for our location
because my supervisor doesn’t like the interface for dbA. I believe dbB is a
separate module/entity from dbA and doesn’t need to be related but I have
access to dbA through terminal services. The structure of dbB should be
similar to dbA with some differences. I asked the regional dba to give me
his structure so I could benefit from the knowledge. All I have is the web
interface to an mde file. It took 2 years for the dba to build our
department dbA.

I noticed that I can't print the fields and tables in the relationships
window. I could do a print screen of the field and table names. I don't see
any relationships in this window only tables and fields. When I try to print
the queries I get the message doc_tblObjects already exists? I could print
one query, presumably because that is the query for the report they give us?
I would love to see the reports, the macros, the queries so as to build on
what they have already learned.

Are there no relationships in the Access dbA because it is only a frontend
to a SQL db or because it is an mde file? I think it is stored in SQL
because there is a large amount of data or because there are other databases
stored and it is easier for the dba. All we need is our tables for our weekly
Excel report. Do I need to ask for the SQL database structure as well? Would
it help to see the Access relationships?

Shouldn't it be acceptable for us to ask him for a copy of the access db
itself? We aren't allowed to query this SQL database or read from it. I
don’t know what his tables and fields mean
1. dbo_XXXX means database open?
2. tbl_XXX means table …?
3. _XXX would this mean a related table or library file?

There seems to be a communication problem but maybe I am lucky I get the
fields and table names?

Tia,

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

Starting from the back - dbo_ is the usual prefix for SQL server tables. It
is short for database owner. So it is possible for the prefix to be
different. Local Access tables are frequently prefixed with tbl. You can
tell the source of the table by the icon to its left. Squares that look
like datasheets are local tables, datasheet squares with arrows to the left
are linked Jet tables. Globes with arrows to the left are linked ODBC
tables, excel symbols with arrows to the left are linked excel sheets. So,
anything that is linked will have a right facing arrow to the left of the
type symbol. If you roll the mouse over a linked table, you should see a
tool tip with the path to the source database or DSN for the ODBC database.

If the tables are linked to a SQL Server database or even another Access
database, you will not normally see the relationships in the relationship
window of the FE. You would need to view them in the back end database.
Most developers don't bother to define the relationships in the FE since
they would be descriptive only. Only the relationships stored in the
physical database are used to enforce RI.

I feel your pain (and your bosses) but you may not be able to get a usable
copy (unsecured .mdb) from the developer. An .mde will not let you view any
code or any design for forms and reports. It will let you view queries and
tables though and macros (although if your developer is a pro, there won't
be more than 2 or 3 of them. If there are lots of macros, your developer is
not a pro.)

Is the documenter available in the .mde? Have you tried running it?

I don't like to encourage this, but you may be able to create a new empty
database and link it to the SQL Server back end if you can identify which
DSN to use. This will allow you to see the linked tables but I think you'll
need Enterprise Manager (for SQL 2000) or SQL Server Management Studio (for
SQL 2005) to view the relationships. If you open a linked table in design
view, Access will allow you to view the primary key and any other indexes
but that's about all you can see. Of course, you can't change the structure
from an .mdb. Actually, you might be able to create an .adp which gives you
a lot more capability where SQL server is concerned so with that, you will
be able to see relationships, etc.

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

Starting from the back - dbo_ is the usual prefix for SQL server tables. It
is short for database owner. So it is possible for the prefix to be
different. Local Access tables are frequently prefixed with tbl.

Just to confuse things one app I had the linked tables with a
different link name inside the Access FE than the SQL Server name. I
didn't want the app to have to work with dbo in front.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Janis]

Why is someone a pro if they don't use macros? Is that because they should
be using VBA or because if they have a good design they won't need macros?

Can you do this domain name thing with a mde file on terminal services? I
can look and see if I can find the domain name. I suppose I must have it if
I can log on to it.

 

[Janis]

I cannot get the documentor to print. Either because it is terminal services
or because it is web based or because it is an mde.

 

[Janis]

The weird thing is I looked at it about a month ago and I could print the
field definitions. Now I cannot print anything in the documentor. I don't
know if it got changed but I don't know why someone would do that.

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

The fact that there are no macros doesn't mean that the database was
developed by a pro but the fact that there are numerous macros indicates
that the designer was NOT a pro. Professionals do not use macros for two
reasons,
1. Macros do not support error handling.
2. They know how to code and so can do things much more efficiently and with
a lot less trouble by using VBA.

Yes, as long as you can get to the database container, you can see the name
of the DSN that was used to link the tables. If you have the option to show
system tables (Tools/options/ check the show system tables box), you can
open the MSysObjects table and see the entire connection string much more
clearly than you can with the mouseover.

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

Does the documenter product a report and you just can't print it or is the
documenter just not producing a report?

I can't help you with printer issues with Terminal Services, you need to
talk to your tech people about fixing that.

 

[Janis]

I just tried the documentor and it seemed like it was trying to format the
pages. Perhaps I did it wrong the second time. I asked for the
relationships and tables so it was taking some time. I will try it later but
I'm trying to figure out how to see the linked tables if that is possible.

thanks,

 

[Janis]

Pat:

I don't know what you mean about getting to the database container. We are
in a different building presumably on a different network. However we are
linked because of the terminal services. That is all I can see of this
database and the security is tight. However, we have a network technician
who works in this building and I am sure he has the Domain Name SErver. I
was wondering if I ask him for that if I can put that name into the dialog
box. In other words, I go to external databases and in the box should I put
in the domain name server, IP address or do I need the network address? I
can definitely try it to see if it works. At this point however I cannot get
to that container by "my network places" those appear to be blocked off.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Janis]

Pat:
I succeeded in getting to the actual .mde file on the network and linking to
it! I see what you mean, I can see the linked tables. This does seem
valuable since I can now see what tables are being used in SQL.

One thing, I was told that this was only a front end db but there is 294,222
kb in the file? Could that be the current week input from Excel? I have some
confusion on what this Access db is doing. My vague understanding is there
is a weekly excel sheet that has some router data on it from Regional. This
access db matches this data with our data which has to do with the individual
ports on the router. Then the user updates the data. I believe there are
so many router ports that it may need to be stored in SQL.

tia,

 

[Janis]

I am able to see some linked tables in the table window. I notice that none
of them start with dbo_ which I thought were the SQL linked tables. These
only start with tbl_ so I'm assuming they are the ones that link to SQL not
the other way around? There are no queries available to look at. Which may
only mean the queries are all in Access? I can print from the documentor all
the field definitions which is great. I noticed the relationship window is
greyed out assuming that is a block in the permissions?

thanks for your help.

 

[Janis]

Does this mean the linked tables in the tables window are the SQL tables or
the Access tables? I'm linking to the Access db and I assume there is no way
to link to SQL?

 

[Janis]

It looks like it is linked by Jet. There are table symbols with the left
arrow. There may be some SQL tables as well though since we are trying to
match to excel in access and then possibly export to SQL. I can verify that
there is a SQL server. I don't see any SQL tables though or relationships.

 

[Janis]

I just noticed something while I was poking around. There was only the .mde
file. 294,XXX kb. Then on the shared drive there appeared an .ldb file of 1
kb. Is this the data file after they pull a query? It is locked, I guess it
wouldn't help me anyway, it is not the .mdb file. Well thanks again.

tia,

 

[Janis]

How do I find the SQL tables? If the Access db is just exporting to those
tables does that mean I won't be able to link to them?
tia,

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

Does this mean the linked tables in the tables window are the SQL tables or
the Access tables? I'm linking to the Access db and I assume there is no way
to link to SQL?

You can link to any SQL Server or ODBC tables just as you would link
to tables from an Access/Jet MDB

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

You can't chain links. When you select the link to option from get external
data, Access only shows you the local tables in the database you selected to
link to. If that database also links to other Access or ODBC tables, you
won't see them.

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

Access creates an .ldb file with the same name as the .mdb or .mde file, in
the same directory as the .mdb or .mde. The .ldb is used for managing
concurrent users.

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

You should be able to compact the database - Tools/Database
Utilities/Compact

As to the relationships, click the relationships icon in the toolbar. That
will open the relationships window. There will be a new option in the File
menu to print the relationships window. You may have to change the
orientation and margins if the preview shows the picture cutting off at a
bad place.