set field description in VBA

[Kate]

Hi, I'm trying to update a tabledef programatically, using
field descriptions that exist as text in another table. I
can't find anyway to set or reference the field's
description property via VBA. Is this possible?

Thanks,
Kate

 

[Douglas J Steele]

The Description property doesn't actually exist until you add a description.
If you try to refer to the Description property before then, you'll get an
error 3270 (Property Not Found)

You can use the CreateProperty method to add it in the first place.

Here's some untested air-code that should create the description if it
doesn't exist, or change it if it does.

Sub SetDescription(WhatField As DAO.Field, NewDescription As String)
On Error GoTo Err_SetDescription

Dim prpDesc As DAO.Property

WhatField.Properties("Description") = NewDescription

End_SetDescription:
Exit Sub

Err_SetDescription:
If Err.Number = 3270 Then
Set prpDesc = WhatField.CreateProperties( _
"Description", _
dbText, _
NewDescription)
WhatField.Properties.Append prpDesc
Else
MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & " (" & _
Err.Description & ") occurred."
End If
Resume End_SetDescription

End Sub