Create Access Database in C#

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Guest

I am very familiar with DataAdapters and accessing Access from C#, but am
trying to create a blank database programatically from C#. I can't figure
out how to do this, and haven't had much luck with MSDN. Anyone here know
how to do this?
 
Hello Brian,

If it's a SQL Server database you can create a blank one my running the query:

CREATE DATABASE [database name]

Martin.
 
If it's a SQL Server database you can create a blank one my running the
query:

CREATE DATABASE [database name]
Click to expand...

Did you actually read the OP, particularly the subject...?
 
Actuall I'm using MS Office Access. I don't know of any way to perform SQL
commands BEFORE i attach to a database. I need to create a blank database,
then I know SQL well enough to do what I need to. I just don't know how to
create a blank database programatically.
 
Brian,
Actuall I'm using MS Office Access. I don't know of any way to perform
SQL
commands BEFORE i attach to a database. I need to create a blank
database,
then I know SQL well enough to do what I need to. I just don't know how
to
create a blank database programatically.
Click to expand...

It's a breeze, so long as you don't mind a bit of InterOp... :-) Just set a
reference to Microsoft ADO Ext 2.x in your project and drop the following
code into a new Class.

using System;
using ADOX;

namespace CreateDB
{
public class CCreateDB
{
public static bool CreateDB(string pstrDB)
{
try
{
Catalog cat = new Catalog();
string strCreateDB = "";

strCreateDB += "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;";
strCreateDB += "Data Source=" + pstrDB + ";";
strCreateDB += "Jet OLEDB:Engine Type=5";
cat.Create(strCreateDB);
return true;
}
catch (Exception)
{
throw;
}
}
}
}

Then, to create the database, just run:

bool blnSuccess = CCreateDB.CreateDB(@"c:\test.mdb");

Obviously, you'll want to enhance the above code to e.g. check that the DB
doesn't already exist, check that the path does already exist etc.

HTH

Mark
 
Brian,
Click to expand...

Actually, on reflection, a much more elegant solution might be to include a
blank Access database as an Embedded Resource in your app, as it will be a
mere 64k in length. Then, when you need to create a new DB, just write it
out to the file system wherever you need it, naming it as required.

1) Using Access, create a blank database called something like template.mdb
(or whatever).

2) Create a new C# WinForms project called Brian (or whatever).

3) Drag the newly created DB into your C# project, setting its Build Action
property to Embedded Resource.

4) Use the following code to extract the blank DB out of your assembly and
onto the hard drive:

try
{
byte[] abytResource;
System.Reflection.Assembly objAssembly =
System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();

objStream = objAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Brian.template.mdb");
abytResource = new Byte[objStream.Length];
objStream.Read(abytResource, 0, (int)objStream.Length);
objFileStream = new FileStream(<path> + "\\" + <newName.mdb>,
FileMode.Create);
objFileStream.Write(abytResource, 0, (int)objStream.Length);
objFileStream.Close();

}
catch (Exception)
{
throw;
}
finally
{
if (objFileStream != null)
{
objFileStream.Close();
objFileStream = null;
}
if (objStream != null)
{
objStream = null;
}
}
 
Oops - forgot the two object variables above the try..catch...finally:

Stream objStream = null;

FileStream objFileStream = null;

try
 
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