backup .mdb file

[jharpo]

I would like to enable the user of my app. to backup the Access (.mdb) database file to floppy each day (it's pretty small for now). Is there an API call or built in function to do this? Thank you in advance.

[ermingut]

1. You can use FileCopy function.
2. You can use Shell function to run some archive programs (winzip, pkzip, ...) with parameters that will zip file and copy it to floppy!

Ermin

[MartinLiss]

...or you can drop common dialog control on your form and then use DAO and a modified version of the following code to ask the user where to place the backup copy and then create the backup copy via DatabaseCompact which has the advantage of creating the smallest possible file.

Public Function CreateDB() As Boolean
'***************************************************************************
'Purpose: Create the extract database via CompactDatabase
'Inputs:  None
'Outputs: None
'***************************************************************************

    Dim wrkDefault As Workspace

    frmExtract.dlgMDB.CancelError = True
    frmExtract.dlgMDB.DefaultExt = "MDB"
    frmExtract.dlgMDB.Filter = "Test Case Database Files(*.MDB)|*.MDB"
    
    On Error Resume Next
    
    frmExtract.dlgMDB.Flags = cdlOFNOverwritePrompt Or cdlOFNExtensionDifferent Or cdlOFNPathMustExist
    frmExtract.dlgMDB.Action = 2
    
    If Err = 32755 Then 'Cancel
        Err.Clear
        CreateDB = False
        Exit Function
    End If
    
    On Error GoTo ErrorRoutine
    
    ' Get default Workspace.
    Set wrkDefault = DBEngine.Workspaces(0)
    ' Make sure there isn't already a file with the name of
    ' the new database.
    If Dir(frmExtract.dlgMDB.FileName) <> "" Then
        Kill frmExtract.dlgMDB.FileName
    End If
    
    g_dbRWTU.Close
    DBEngine.CompactDatabase "c:\rwt\data\rwtu.mdb", frmExtract.dlgMDB.FileName
    
    CreateDB = True
    Exit Function
    
ErrorRoutine:

    CreateDB = False
    DisplayError "CreateDB", "Error", vbCritical

End Function

To use the above you will want to delete the g_dbRWTU.Close
line, change the hard-coded database name in the CompactDatabase line, and change the ErrorRoutine to suit yourself.

[KenX]

from ermingut, to use the pkzip utility with the
Shell function, an example is shown below:

ret = Shell("c:\utils\pkzip a:\BkUp c:\MyMdb\MyMdb.mdb")

Caution: vb or vba does not wait for the Shell command
to finish its process (i.e. it goes straight
to the next program line)

hope this helps...

[jharpo]

Thanks to all who commented. Very useful information.