How to run VBA procedure

[bkelly]

Windows XP, Access 2003, neophyte Access programmer



When writing VBA in Excel, pressing F5 would run the procedure where the cursor was located. In Access it opens a menu and asks which procedure I want to run. Although I have saved the procedure, it does not show up in the menu.

How do I just run the procedure I am editing?
How do I add my procedure to <something/somewhere> so it will show up in the list of functions to run?

Second, and I don't know if this is related:
I copied this code fragment directly from the VBA help function to start up a file open dialog box and put it in the click event for a button:

Private Sub btnImportData_Click()
Dim dlgOpen As FileDialog
Set dlgOpen = Application.FileDialog( _
    FileDialogType:=msoFileDialogOpen)
With dlgOpen
    .AllowMultiSelect = True
    .Show
End With
End Sub

When I try to run it Access pops up a dialog error box that says:

User-defined type not defined

This is right from the help function. FileDialog is not my data type, it should be already defined. What do I need to get an open file dialog box?

Thank you for your time.

[RuralGuy]

In order to execute code in a form, the form needs to be running. Put a breakpoint in the code if you want to drop into the debugger.

[bkelly]

If I understand you correctly, I must use a control such as a button to start a VBA procedure.

I suspected that and created a form with just a single button and added the proceedure to the Click event. Is this the correct way?

I have done some more searching and am reaching the conclusion that VBA in Access is not able to use the standard open file dialog box. Is this true?

Following up on that assumption: A few places referenced something about an Access Developers Edition (or Addition) that provides this ability. My searches did not return any solid. I found some stuff about Visual Studio developer stuff, but nothing that said it was a developer's kit for Microsoft Access. Have I reached the right conclusion and is there such a thing?

[RuralGuy]

You are on the right track for executing code in a form. Public procedures in a Standard Module can be executed directly from the Immediate window. <ctrl>G
Finding the developer extensions for ac2003 could be tough and I do not believe it offers what you are talking about anyway.

[bkelly]

So I surmise that I cannot use the Open File Dialog Box from Access. That really is a pity and quite surprising.

Regardless, you have answered my questions so Thank You for your time.

[RuralGuy]

So I surmise that I cannot use the Open File Dialog Box from Access. That really is a pity and quite surprising.

On the contrary but most of us prefer to use the API.

[bkelly]

I found that one earlier today. Looks to me like its building its own dialog box rather than using the simple function:

Set dlgOpen = Application.FileDialog( _
    FileDialogType:=msoFileDialogOpen)

I'll save that link but for now will work on some code to read data from a text file and fill in records in my database. Then I can return to this concept.
Thanks again for your time.

[RuralGuy]

Just an FYI: the common control can have versioning issues and the API does not.

[bkelly]

I wasn't aware of that.
Thank you.