ACC2000: How to Load OLE Objects from a Folder into a Table

This article shows you how to automatically append all files with a particular extension from a specified folder on the hard disk to a table. This routine is good for loading OLE objects, such as .gif, .jpg, .doc, .xls, or .bmp files that are associated with an OLE Server, into a Microsoft Access database.

NOTE: To associate a graphic file with an OLE Server, open it with an OLE Server package, such as Microsoft Imager or Microsoft Paint, and save the file.

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.

Method to Import OLE Object Files

1. Create the following new table in Design view. Save it as tblLoadOLE:

      Table: tblLoadOLE
      ------------------------
      Field Name: OLEID
         Data Type: AutoNumber
      Field Name: OLEPath
         Data Type: Text
         Field Size: 255
      Field Name: OLEFile
         Data Type: OLE Object
   
      Table Properties: tblLoadOLE
      ----------------------------
      PrimaryKey: OLEID
   					

2. Use the AutoForm: Columnar Wizard to create a new form based on the tblLoadOLE table. Save it as frmLoadOLE.
3. Open the frmLoadOLE form in Design view.
4. Create the following three unbound text box controls in the form header section of the form:

      Form: frmLoadOLE
      ------------------------
      Text Box:
         Name: SearchFolder
      Text Box:
         Name: SearchExtension
      Text Box:
         Name: OLEClass
   					

5. Create the following command button on the form:

      Command Button
      --------------
      Name: cmdLoadOLE
      Caption: Load Files
   					

6. Type the following event procedure in the OnClick property of the cmdLoadOLE button:

   Private Sub cmdLoadOLE_Click()
   
      Dim MyFolder As String
      Dim MyExt As String
      Dim MyPath As String
      Dim MyFile As String
      Dim strCriteria As String
   
      MyFolder = Me!SearchFolder
      ' Get the search path.
      MyPath = MyFolder & "\" & "*." & [SearchExtension]
      ' Get the first file in the path containing the file extension.
      MyFile = Dir(MyPath, vbNormal)
      Do While Len(MyFile) <> 0
         [OLEPath] = MyFolder & "\" & MyFile
         [OLEFile].Class = [OLEClass]
         [OLEFile].OLETypeAllowed = acOLEEmbedded
         [OLEFile].SourceDoc = [OLEPath]
         [OLEFile].Action = acOLECreateEmbed
         ' Check for next OLE file in the folder.
         MyFile = Dir
         ' Go to new record on form.
         DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdRecordsGoToNew
      Loop
   
   End Sub
   					

7. Save the frmLoadOLE form and open it in Form view.
8. In the SearchFolder text box, type the full path name of the folder that you want to search.
9. In the SearchExtension text box, type the file extension that you want to load, such as bmp, jpg, doc, xls, tif, or gif. Do not type a period as part of the extension. For example, do not type .bmp.
10. Type the Class name for the type of file that you are loading, such as Paint.Picture for .bmp files.
    
    NOTE: To determine the Class name of an OLE object, see the documentation for the application supplying the object.
11. Click the Load Files button. Note that All files that match the SearchFolder and SearchExtension that you entered are added to the tblLoadOLE table.