ACC: OpenDatabase and CloseDatabase Pseudo Actions

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

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

Microsoft Access includes two "pseudo actions," or dynamic data exchange (DDE) commands, called OpenDatabase and CloseDatabase. These commands are available through the DDE SYSTEM topic, and allow you to open and close Microsoft Access databases over a DDE channel.

MORE INFORMATION

The syntax for the OpenDatabase and CloseDatabase pseudo actions is

   OpenDatabase <Database_Location>

   CloseDatabase

The following sample Microsoft Excel macro demonstrates how the OpenDatabase and CloseDatabase pseudo actions work.

NOTE: This macro will not work with Microsoft Access version 1.0.

1. Start Microsoft Access (Microsoft Access must already be running in order for this macro to work).

2. In Microsoft Excel open a new Excel 4.0 macro sheet. Enter the following macro:

         Cell    Command
         -------------------------------------------------
   
         A1      PseudoOpenCloseDDEExample
         A2
         A3      chan=INITIATE("MSACCESS","SYSTEM")
         A4      =APP.ACTIVATE("Microsoft Access",FALSE)
         A5      =EXECUTE(chan,"[opendatabase northwind.mdb]")
   
         NOTE: In versions 1.1 and 2.0, use =EXECUTE(chan,"[opendatabase
         nwind.mdb]")
   
         A6      =EXECUTE(chan,"[Sample AutoExec]")
         A7      =EXECUTE(chan,"[closedatabase]")
         A8      =TERMINATE(chan)
         A9      =APP.ACTIVATE(,FALSE)
         A10     =RETURN()
   
   

3. Select cell A3. On the Macro menu, click Run, and then click OK.

The command in cell A5 opens the sample database Northwind.mmdb (or NWIND.MDB in version 1.1 and 2.0) in the current working folder (directory), using the OpenDatabase pseudo action.

The command in cell A6 runs the "Sample AutoExec" macro in the Northwind.mdb.

The command in cell A7 closes the currently opened database file using the CloseDatabase pseudo action.

The commands in cells A8-A10 terminate the DDE channel, activate the Microsoft Excel application, and end the macro.

For more information about Using Microsoft Access as a DDE Server, search the Help Index for "servers, DDE," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.