Referring to a form in another database

[aytee111]

I am creating text files for forms in another database so that I can check out the VBA code used in the form. This has been working using the following code:

    Set app = New Access.Application
    Set app = fGetRefNoAutoexec(FileName)
    Set dbs = app.CurrentDb
.....
  dbs.Application.SaveAsText x, doc.Name, FileN
.....

The trouble with this code is that it opens the database. I found some other code that references another database without opening it:

Set dbs = DBEngine(0).OpenDatabase(FileName)

But this gives me a compile error: Method or Data Member not found (on the dbs."Application").

Is there a way to refer to the forms in another database without actually opening it, just pointing to it?

[CJ_London]

Is there a way to refer to the forms in another database without actually opening it, just pointing to it?

short answer is no. Forms will only work in the db where they are, so you have to open the db one way or another

You can make the other db a library to the current db and have a module in the other db with a procedure something like this - basically just calling openform from the library objects

Public Sub OpenLibraryForm(FormName As String, Optional View As AcFormView, Optional FilterName As Variant, Optional WhereCondition As Variant, Optional DataMode As AcFormOpenDataMode, Optional WindowMode As AcWindowMode, Optional OpenArgs As Variant)

    DoCmd.openForm FormName, View, FilterName, WhereCondition, DataMode, WindowMode, OpenArgs

   End Sub

the other code I have is opens the other db in the background

Function OpenRemoteForm(MDBFile As String, FormName As String, Optional ViewMode As Long = acViewNormal)
    Dim appAccess As Access.Application
    
    If Len(Dir(MDBFile)) > 0 Then
        Set appAccess = New Access.Application
        With appAccess
            apiSetForegroundWindow .hWndAccessApp
            apiShowWindow .hWndAccessApp, SW_HIDE
            .OpenCurrentDatabase MDBFile, False
            .DoCmd.openForm FormName, ViewMode
        End With
    End If
End Function

note forms to be opened may need to be popup and modal

[aytee111]

Thanks for your reply. I'm not opening the form, not to display it anyway. All I need to do is read the VBA code for which I am using SaveAsText. The trouble with using NEW is that the database takes so long to open whereas my second method above took no time at all, with the added advantage of there being no window. The database I took that from was changing the options and properties of the external database, which is different to going into the objects, I guess.

[CJ_London]

if the code is in a form module you'll have to open the form anyway.

seems to me it would be a lot simpler just to manually copy the code

[aytee111]

seems to me it would be a lot simpler just to manually copy the code

...but not nearly as much fun!

However, this is not a one-time deal, it will be done for all databases that go thru development.

[aytee111]

I don't think SaveAsText is considered "opening" the form, is it? I have to admit to sometimes copying code without really understanding it.

[orange]

I have used the following --save a form without opening it.

'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure : jsaveForm
' Author    : Jack
' Created   : 12/1/2009
' Purpose   :  To save as Form as a textfile
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Last Modified:
'
' Inputs: N/A
' Dependency: N/A
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
Sub jsaveForm()
      Dim db As DAO.Database
      Dim obj As Object
      Dim a As String
      Dim B As String

10    a = "frmSourceOfBusinessCBX"
20    B = "c:\users\mellon\documents\frmSourceOfBusinessCBX.txt"
30       On Error GoTo jsaveForm_Error

40    Set db = CurrentDb
50    Application.SaveAsText acForm, a, B
60       On Error GoTo 0
70       Exit Sub

jsaveForm_Error:

80        MsgBox "Error " & err.number & " (" & err.Description & ") in procedure jsaveForm of Module ADO_Etc"

End Sub

[aytee111]

It's that "Application" that I am trying to get around - that requires the database to be opened.

[orange]

Interesting- if you find something please let us all know.

[CJ_London]

have you tried transferdatabase? example here transfers a report

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib.../ff196455.aspx

still opens the db though

[aytee111]

And I would still have to save it as text, adding an extra step.

I was hoping to use the second way of opening the database in my first post and combining that with saving to a text file. I haven't found an answer anywhere so maybe it isn't possible.

[CJ_London]

really don't think it is possible without opening the file - same as getting data from excel, word, etc

[ssanfu]

Have you seen this?
http://www.datastrat.com/Code/DocDatabase.txt

Maybe you could open a different dB in the background (using part of the code from Ajax in Post #2) and export the code....????

[aytee111]

That's where I got my original code from! I will do some more experimenting tomorrow and let you know.

[ssanfu]

Maybe this will help:

In Access help, search for "OpenDatabase". Then open "Workspace.OpenDatabase Method". There is code (at the bottom) for opening multiple databases.