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.NET tool for browsing MDB database


I'm looking for a solution to provide MDB database viewing capabilities in my WinForms application. The goal is to allow user browsing tables, columns and rows. Any open-source or freeware widget available for this?


Solution

  • I think you don't need a special widget for this.
    You can do it quite easily yourself, only with built-in .net stuff and a bit of Access knowledge.

    1) Browsing tables (=getting a list of all existing tables):
    Every MDB (at least A2000 and A2003, I have never used A2007 and above) has a hidden table named MSysObjects.
    It contains ALL objects (forms and reports as well, for example) but you can filter on the Type column to get only the tables:
    Type = 1 : local tables
    Type = 6 : linked tables

    2) Showing the content of one table:
    Just load it into a DataSet and display it in a grid.