Field2.SaveToFile method (DAO)

Applies to: Access 2013, Office 2013

Saves an attachment to disk.

Version information

Version added: Access 2007

Syntax

expression .SaveToFile(FileName)

expression A variable that represents a Field2 object.

Parameters

Name	Required/optional	Data type	Description
FileName	Required	String	The fully qualified path of the file to which you want to save the attachment.

Example

The following code snippet illustrates how to use the SaveToFile method to save all of the attachments for a specific employee to disk.

    '  Instantiate the parent recordset.  
       Set rsEmployees = db.OpenRecordset("Employees") 
      
       … Code to move to desired employee 
      
       ' Instantiate the child recordset. 
       Set rsPictures = rsEmployees.Fields("Pictures").Value  
     
       '  Loop through the attachments. 
       While Not rsPictures.EOF 
      
          '  Save current attachment to disk in the "My Documents" folder. 
          rsPictures.Fields("FileData").SaveToFile _ 
                      "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents" 
          rsPictures.MoveNext 
       Wend 

The following example shows how to save the files stored in an attachment field to the specified folder path.

Sample code provided by the Microsoft Access 2010 Programmer’s Reference.

    Public Function SaveAttachments(strPath As String, Optional strPattern As String = "*.*") As Long
        Dim dbs As DAO.Database
        Dim rst As DAO.Recordset2
        Dim rsA As DAO.Recordset2
        Dim fld As DAO.Field2
        Dim strFullPath As String
        
        'Get the database, recordset, and attachment field
        Set dbs = CurrentDb
        Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordset("tblAttachments")
        Set fld = rst("Attachments")
        
        'Navigate through the table
        Do While Not rst.EOF
        
            'Get the recordset for the Attachments field
            Set rsA = fld.Value
            
            'Save all attachments in the field
            Do While Not rsA.EOF
                If rsA("FileName") Like strPattern Then
                    strFullPath = strPath & "\" & rsA("FileName")
                    
                    'Make sure the file does not exist and save
                    If Dir(strFullPath) = "" Then
                        rsA("FileData").SaveToFile strFullPath
                    End If
                    
                    'Increment the number of files saved
                    SaveAttachments = SaveAttachments + 1
                End If
                
                'Next attachment
                rsA.MoveNext
            Loop
            rsA.Close
            
            'Next record
            rst.MoveNext
        Loop
        
        rst.Close
        dbs.Close
        
        Set fld = Nothing
        Set rsA = Nothing
        Set rst = Nothing
        Set dbs = Nothing
    End Function