Access can show external tables in ODBC, so why can't vb.net apps do it?

[Me.com]

I have a need for listing all the tables and their structures in an informix
database. The only connection I can make work is ODBC. I've tried to
connect using the OLE DB connection but it fails. However, if I open MS
Access and do a link through the ODBC, it lists all the tables etc.
From threads I've read here and other Newsgroups, I'm told there is no way
to read tables/structures with ODBC.
This database has literally hundreds of tables and I'm searching for just a
couple of them. Vendor is no help for data dictionary.

Is there a way to use something in Access combined with vb.net to get this
information? I know it may not be pretty, but it's a one time deal and
we're done.

Any thoughts, directions or otherwise will be appreciated.
thanx.

 

[John Nurick]

Surely it's possible to run a query against the Informix system tables
to return a list of the tables or views your app's user can see? Your
DBA should be able to help with this.

 

[Me.com]

I would think so too. However, the only DBA for the Informix system is the
vendor for the software we're using and the vendor does not want to help us
extract our own data. I personally do not feel comfortable messing around
with this DBMS if I can avoid it. Since Access is able to see and list the
tables/structures with ODBC in this one database, I was hoping for a
solution using it.

daver

 

[John Nurick]

I'd expect the main system tables to have standard names in most or all
Informix databases, just as they do in Jet databases. Also, have you
searched the app's executable files for SQL statements that would give
you clues?

From another viewpoint, if you can get the list in Access and you only
need to do it once, you could just copy it into a textfile and import
that into your .Net app.

I would think so too. However, the only DBA for the Informix system is the
vendor for the software we're using and the vendor does not want to help us
extract our own data. I personally do not feel comfortable messing around
with this DBMS if I can avoid it. Since Access is able to see and list the
tables/structures with ODBC in this one database, I was hoping for a
solution using it.

daver