Create accdb or mdb from code

StewartBW 1,145

Hello

I can create a new xls or xlsx Excel file with this:

"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=D:\x.xls;Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0"""
Using ExcelConnection As New OleDbConnection(AboveString)

But how to create a new mdb or accdb empty Access database file?

I'm using Access Database Engine Runtime. Also if I add ;HDR=YES to the end of string, I see no difference in header's first row?

Thanks.

Jiachen Li-MSFT 32,376 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-05-20T07:18:28.5166667+00:00

May I know if your problem has been solved or not?

If not, please It will be great if you can share more detailed information for us to better investigate this issue.

If solved, you could accept the helpful answer to change its status to Answered. It will also help others to solve the similar issue.

Thanks for your cooperation.

2 answers

Castorix31 85,881

A way is with ADOX

A test :

                // Add reference to : Microsoft ADO Ext. 6.0 for DDL and Security

                ADOX.Catalog cat = new ADOX.Catalog();
                try
                {
                    cat.Create("Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=E:\\newdb.mdb;Jet OLEDB:Engine Type=5");
                }
                catch (System.Exception ex)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Database creation error : " + ex.Message, "Error");
                }

StewartBW 1,145 Reputation points

2024-05-16T13:31:56.0866667+00:00

oh, sorry no Office and COM components allowed, the Excel creation will just work with .NET Access Database Engine, possible to do the same with the mdb/accdb?

Castorix31 85,881

I don't see why you don't want to use COM (used eveywhere in Windows...) and OleDbConnection could use COM too (I see a reference to CoCreateInstance in a trace)

Otherwise, another method is with SQLConfigDataSource :

                bool bRet = SQLConfigDataSource(IntPtr.Zero, ODBC_ADD_DSN,
                                       "Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb)",
                                       "CREATE_DB=E:\\Test2.mdb General\0");

with :

        [DllImport("Odbccp32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
        public static extern bool SQLConfigDataSource(IntPtr hwndParent,
                                 UInt16 fRequest,
                                 string lpszDriver,
                                 string lpszAttributes);

        public const int ODBC_ADD_DSN = 1;               // Add data source
        public const int ODBC_CONFIG_DSN = 2;               // Configure (edit) data source
        public const int ODBC_REMOVE_DSN = 3;               // Remove data source
        public const int ODBC_ADD_SYS_DSN = 4;               // add a system DSN
        public const int ODBC_CONFIG_SYS_DSN = 5;         // Configure a system DSN
        public const int ODBC_REMOVE_SYS_DSN = 6;         // remove a system DSN
        public const int ODBC_REMOVE_DEFAULT_DSN = 7;       // remove the default DSN

Jiachen Li-MSFT 32,376 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-05-17T07:17:21.9233333+00:00

Hi @StewartBW ,

.NET Framework does not provide a direct method for creating Access databases natively.

But you can copy and rename programmatically using a template database file.

Then use SQL DDL (Data Definition Language) commands to create tables and structure within the new database file.

Best Regards.

Jiachen Li

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Create accdb or mdb from code

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