Question Printing/exporting database structure

[SueBK]

I have been given the task of writing a technical manual for the monster database we have designed. This thing has 70 or 80 tables and all the related queries, forms and reports. It's huge.

Is it possible to export a list of all the structural contents. Part of my task to define what each table/query is for (ack!). If I open the DB properties I can get a lovely list; but I can't see how to export it.

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Found lots of answers online. Finally found one I understood!

Open the database which contains the tables you want listed.
Choose the menu item Tools, Options, View tab and check the box System Objects under the Show area at the top. This will make system tables always visible in your databases unless you uncheck it again. You can uncheck it once you are done with this option.
Select the Queries tab under Objects on left side.
Choose New on the toolbar to create a new query.
Select Design View in the New Query dialog box, click OK.
Add the table MSysObjects (NOT MSysAccessObjects!)
Choose the two fields Name and Type (near the end of the list.)
In the Criteria row for the Type field, enter 1 or 4. (I haven't done this; having fun looking at ALL 1000+ elements at the moment).
In the Criteria row for the Name field, enter Not Like "msys*" (an asterisk and double-quote at the end.)
Save and run this query. See above for printing.

 

[wazz]

msysobjects:
http://www.perfectparadigm.com/tip001.html
http://www.databasejournal.com/feat...28491/Use-System-Tables-to-Manage-Objects.htm

the book Database Design for Mere Mortals comes with some great forms for documenting a database.

 

[HiTechCoach]

Access has a built in documenter (tools > analyze...).

You may also want to check out:

CSD Tools Database Documentation

Access Database Documenters Package

 

[gemma-the-husky]

is the db access?

you can link a help file to access easily with hyperlinks etc

i actual prefer the help file in A97 - I can never find what i want in later versions of access

A help file of this type can be prepared by a help compiler which takes pages of rtf files, 1 per copy.

MS have the compiler as a download - but I can't locate it on my system at the moment, as its a while since I used it.

http://www.ec-software.com/downloads_mscomp.html

this is the link - i use the one to prepare the .hlp files


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out of interest you can find free help decompilers to take an existing hlp file (eg from a commercial app), and turn into the rtf files - which may be useful

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help files are sometimes easier than printed manuals, as you can jump around them

just having a list of fields and forms, doesnt necessarily help write a user manual

 

[wiklendt]

Access has a built in documenter (tools > analyze...).

You may also want to check out:

CSD Tools Database Documentation

Access Database Documenters Package

Hi HiTechCoach,

thanks for those links. i myself have found myself in the market for more sophisticated documentation techniques (than code remarks and word!)

in my googling i came across CSD recently but it the website says CSD is not yet compatible with AC2007, which is the version i'm using!!

as for ADDP, it looks good. do you use it yourself? can you name pros and cons? i would download the trial (v1 only), but again it's not compatible with AC2007... (only v2 is compatible, but no trial available for it) the description and screenshots look like it would be a useful and powerful tool for me.

ta.