Article ID: 304318 - Last Review: June 23, 2005 - Revision: 5.0

How to programmatically convert multiple Access databases in Access 2002

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This article was previously published under Q304318

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

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SUMMARY

This article shows you two methods that you can use to programmatically convert Microsoft Access databases. The first method uses the ConvertAccessProject method to convert databases to the format that you specify. The second method uses the Shell function to run Msaccess.exe with the /convert switch. This second method is embedded in a comment block in the sample code. When you use the second method, the databases will be converted to Access 2000 file format regardless of the Default File Format that is specified in the Options dialog box on the Tools menu.

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MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

Open a new or an existing database.
On the Insert menu, click Module. Type the following line in the Declarations section if it is not already there:
Option Explicit

Type or paste the following procedure:

 
Sub ConvertDb(oldDbPath As String, newDbPath As String)

'NOTE: Uncomment the line Dim x if you are using the 
'alternative Shell function method listed later in this code.

'Dim x

Dim strDBName As String
Dim strOLDDB As String
Dim strNewDb As String

strDBName = Dir(oldDbPath & "\*.MDB")   ' Retrieve the first MDB file entry.

'Loop though the files in the folder to find MDB files.

Do While strDBName <> ""
' Ignore the current folder and the encompassing folder.
  If strDBName <> "." And strDBName <> ".." Then
        
    If Right(strDBName, 3) = "mdb" Then
       strOLDDB = oldDbPath & "\" & strDBName
       strNewDb = newDbPath & "\" & strDBName

       'NOTE: Comment out the following four lines if you are using the
       'Shell function method.

       Application.ConvertAccessProject _
       SourceFilename:=strOLDDB, _
       DestinationFilename:=strNewDb, _
       DestinationFileFormat:=acFileFormatAccess2000

       'NOTE: The alternative method is to use the Shell function to open
       'Access and concatenate the Convert switch instead of using the
       'ConvertAccessProject method. To use this method, uncomment the 
       'following two lines.
       
       ' x = Shell("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\MSACCESS.EXE " & Chr(34) _
       '      & strOLDDB & Chr(34) & " /Convert " & Chr(34) & strNewDb & Chr(34))

       MsgBox "Conversion complete."
    End If
  End If
strDBName = Dir    ' Get next MDB.
Loop

End Sub

To test this function, create two folders in the root directory of drive C. Name the folders DatabasesToConvert and ConvertedDatabases. Put the databases that you want to convert in the DatabasesToConvert folder, type the following line in the Immediate window, and then press ENTER:
call ConvertDb("C:\DatabasesToConvert", "C:\ConvertedDatabases")

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REFERENCES

For more information about the ConvertAccessProject method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type convertaccessproject in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For additional information about database conversion, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319400 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319400/ ) Conversion white paper is available in the download center

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