Get started working with Data Flask with an introductory tutorial that copies an Access table, and it's keys into a new database.
This sample uses the Northwind Access database sample available for download from Microsoft here (external) . The tutorial will copy the Customer table from Nwind.mdb into a new Access database. The location this tutorial uses is C:\Data\.
Before we load the table, please arrange the docking windows to your liking. Drag the inside borders of the dockable windows to resize them, or drag the window to a new location by clicking and dragging the Data or History title bar to a new location. Turn the dockable toolbar and off using the Tools Menu. A context window (right-click the dockable title bar) is available to undock the window into MDI.
If you wish Data Flask to re-load documents from the previous session, choose Tools/Customize/Workspace/Remember Open Documents.
The tutorial may be easier to follow if you select Tile Windows from the windows taskbar to vertically align this tutorial, and the application.
Pick File/Open Data from the menu, and select Files of type: Access(*.mdb). Navigate to the directory containing Nwind.mdb, select the file and press Open.
After Nwind.mdb is chosen, select Customers from the Choose Table dialog.
A new Grid document is created containing data from the Customers table. The data you are now looking at is disconnected from the database. It is a copy. Modifications made to the grid spreadsheet are made to your own copy of the data, not the .mdb database file. Only an explicit Data Write from the File menu will modify the database.
Pick File/Save from the menu to save customers.dfg.
The immediately following activity will neither modify the newly created customers.dfg, nor Nwind.mdb: Pick Edit/Properties to see the Grid Properties dialog. Pick Agent from the Grid Properties dialog and notice that OleDb is the currently active agent. Cancel out of both dialogs. Pick Grid/Column/Properties to view the columns dialog. Pick [...] from Data/Type in the dialog. Notice the Column types available. Cancel out of both dialogs. Pick File/Data Link to view the connection string, table name, and index information. Cancel out of the Data Link - OleDb dialog.
When Data Flask loaded the values from the Customer table, it also retained database metadata including the connection string, column types, and primary key information.
Pick File/Data Link/Properties and change Nwind.mdb to Flask.mdb. Press OK to exit the both dialogs. The data link now references
Flask.mdb, which does not yet exist. To create Flask.mdb, first select the OleDb tab of the dockable Data window. Right click Providers to activate the OleDb context Menu and choose Connection/String.
Figure Start-1: OleDb Providers context menu.
The connection string of the currently active grid document, which should be similar to Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\Data\Flask.mdb, will be shown. Press [OK] to close the connection string dialog.
A new entry in the OleDb Data window will appear representing the un-initialized (and yet to be created) Flask.mdb. Right click on Source - C:\Data\Flask.mdb to activate the context menu and pick Admin/Create Database to show the MSJet Initialization dialog, and Press [OK] to create Flask.mdb.
Special instructions if Create Database fails: Pick Providers/Expand/Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0/Open. Pick Source - Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0/Properties. Enter C:\Data\Flask.mdb. [OK] to close the properties dialog. [OK] past a warning message. Pick Admin/Create Database again.
Pick File/Write Data to write data from Customer.dfg into Flask.mdb.
Select the Results Tab in the History Window and notice that five indexes were created, and 91 rows are appended.
Pick File/Write Data again and notice that 91 rows update.
Complete. Additional tutorials. Each provider listed here includes a Migration Sample that sources from the Northwind Access database used here.
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