Loading data from old.MDE into Upgraded MDB

[karenpc]

Before learning about replicas, I built an application and distributed it to my client as an mde. I just made some updates to the original mdb and want to extract the data from my clients mde and load it into the new mdb. Can somebody tell me how to do this? Thanks!!

 

[jimmythegeek]

You need to break your front end out from your back end. Create a front end with everything except the tables, and a back end with nothing but tables, then you link the front end to the back end. This allows you to modify the front end all you want without affecting the data.

This is easy to do. Create a new database. Import all the tables from your users .mde file (File | Get External Data | Import). Now leave that .mdb as is. Delete all the tables from your .mdb you've been working on (front end). Now link the front end (File | Get External Data | Link Tables) to the .mdb you imported the tables into. Give both files to your user (make sure they are linked properly on his machine, you may be working in a different folder than they are located on his machine). Now when you have a new .mde to distribute, you simply make sure it is linked properly, and replace your old one. The data is never touched.

If this is confusing, many in this forum can help you through it. Jim Lunde
compugeeks@hotmail.com
Custom Application Development