Showing all data in access database file to datagridview without knowing about table names

Question

Actually I'm trying to connect my winform data mining application to access database files through open dialogue box when application run . As I'm trying to connect to any unknown database file(mdb/accdb) so, I've no knowledge about its table names.but for connecting database to datagridview you have to provide sql query as command. My question is that , is there any way through which i can load all data(records) in any connected access database file without specifying/knowing tables names of a access db file.

thanks

looks like duplicate http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1699897/retrieve-list-of-tables-in-ms-access-file — Ilia Maskov, Feb 01 '16 at 08:16
actually the main question is after getting this list how I can use these tables in a sql query like SELECT * FROM _____ ; to load data from a all these table to datagridview — Umar Farooq, Feb 01 '16 at 08:22
You should do what you've just said :) `SELECT * FROM tableName` . You can google how to do a query in OLEDB there are tons of examples in there. — Ilia Maskov, Feb 01 '16 at 08:25

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

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You can do is get or list table names first. As explained by Mr. Hayden on his blog http://davidhayden.com/blog/dave/archive/2006/10/01/GetListOfTablesInMicrosoftAccessUsingGetSchema.aspx

// Microsoft Access provider factory
DbProviderFactory factory = DbProviderFactories.GetFactory("System.Data.OleDb");

DataTable userTables = null;
using (DbConnection connection = factory.CreateConnection()) 
{
    // c:\test\test.mdb
    connection.ConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=c:\\test\\test.mdb";
    // We only want user tables, not system tables
    string[] restrictions = new string[4];
    restrictions[3] = "Table";

    connection.Open();

    // Get list of user tables
    userTables = connection.GetSchema("Tables", restrictions);
}

List<string> tableNames = new List<string>();
for (int i=0; i < userTables.Rows.Count; i++)
tableNames.Add(userTables.Rows[i][2].ToString());

Retrieve List of Tables in MS Access File

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

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answered Feb 01 '16 at 08:15

G. Pacete

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ok thanks but how I can use these tables in a sql query like SELECT * FROM _____ ; to load data from a all these table to datagridview – Umar Farooq Feb 01 '16 at 08:21
Table names are kept in "tableNames" list. All you just have to do is retrieve it. for (int i=0; i < tableNames.Count; i++) { SELECT * FROM tableNames[i].ToString(); ... ... ... } I guess you know you have to use 1 datagrid per one table of data if tables are not JOIN tables right? – G. Pacete Feb 01 '16 at 08:42
Nope actually I want to load all table''s data in single datagrid – Umar Farooq Feb 01 '16 at 09:49
Are those 2 or more tables have similar fields and/or number of fields inside? – G. Pacete Feb 02 '16 at 01:31

Showing all data in access database file to datagridview without knowing about table names

1 Answers1