Running WinZIP from Access (Access 97/2000)

Topic

New Reply

Can WinZIP be controled from with Access?

I am working on a import process. The files are sent ot the client as a zip file. I have the process set up to import the files, but I would like to take the extra step to unzip them as part of the import process.

is this possible?

Thanks for the help.

Richard Aheron
raheron@hotmail.com

Reply | Quote

Replies

Just some ideas

… You can run a batch file to launch winzip from the Access application. You may be able to use the sendkeys command to send the keystrokes to unzip the file, however, how will the application know which file to unzip.

Could you elaborate on how your import process will work. How does the client know which files to receive – all files in a particular directory, by selection, date, etc?? … and will all files always be unzipped???

I have some ideas but need to better understand what you are doing.

HTH

Reply | Quote

The code is set up to import files based on the names of the files. The zip file will contain the same six files each time. It is downloaded to the C:Temp folder. I would like to unzip the files to the same directory. The code will then go to that directory and import a given set of files.

Thanks for the help

Reply | Quote

Another alternative is to purchase a library to handle zipping and unzipping files from within Access. I’ve never tried to address the Winzip using wz32.dll, so I don’t know whether there’s a usable interface there for automation, but we use DynaZip at work and simply call the library functions from the dll.

Reply | Quote

Rogers Access Library has a demo dbshowing how to

Reply | Quote

If you want it to work in the background you need to get the winzip command line add-on, which can be downloaded from winzip.

I have only used this from within Access to zip files, but you could also unzip them the same way. You can use the Shell command to run it from within Access. e.g.

RetVal = Shell(“c:Program filesWinzipwzzip -P -a ” & strzipfileName & ” ” & strOldDbName, 1)

Reply | Quote

You can run winzip from the command line and as someone else answered you need the command line version that can be downloaded.

I’ve restored files from a zip from within access as follows.

Function Restore(fNam As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo Err_Restore

Dim cmdLine As String
Dim x As Boolean

DoCmd.Hourglass True
cmdLine = “c:program fileswinzipwinzip32 -e -o -j ” & GetCodeDBPath_TSB() & “caabup” & fNam & ” ” & GetCodeDBPath_TSB()
‘GetCodeDBPath_TSB() & “caabup” & fNam = file path & name
‘GetCodeDBPath_TSB() = destination for unzip

x = SysInfoWaitForApp_TSB(cmdLine, 3)

DoCmd.Hourglass False

Exit_Restore:
Exit Function

Err_Restore:
Select Case Err
Case Else
MsgBox Error, vbCritical, Err & ” – Restore”
End Select

End Function

Private Function SysInfoWaitForApp_TSB(strCommandLine As String, intMode As Integer) As Boolean

Code deleted as it should never have been posted.

refer to http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0004.htm%5B/url%5D
for an alternative method.

End Function

Edited by Charlotte to activate link

Reply | Quote

Stewart,
I dont see any reference to GetCodeDBPath_TSB()
Can you provide?
Thanks,
Scott

Reply | Quote

It’s probably a function from the FMS, Inc. Total SourceBook (The 97 version was called the Total Access Sourcebook, by the way). Their code all ends with a “_TSB” in the routine name. If you don’t have it, you can pretty much infer what it does and build your own. Stewart can’t post it here because the code is copyrighted.

Reply | Quote

as charlotte said it’s a fms function from their Sourcebook so I can’t post it.

In this case I use it to return the application path while building the path and name of the zip file. Alternately you could record this path in a parameter table and just pull the data out of the table when required.

If you want to write a function that returns the running mdb path remember that the database name includes the full path as well as the mdb name.

Reply | Quote

That’s a very handy function to have, I used zip with the shell command at one stage but all I did was to wait a certain amount of time (substantially longer than I needed to actually), it solved the problem in a way (not the best way of course).
Again, well done.
Pat

Reply | Quote

um, I just realised after looking at the post I should not have posted that either as it came from the fms source book.

I know over time I’ve used a couple of different functions & I thought that one was ok to post. Sorry FMS.

There is a section on the Access web that deals with API calls and covers wait for shelled application.

http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0004.htm%5B/url%5D

Edited by Charlotte to activate link

Reply | Quote

Thanks for the edit, Stewart. We don’t want anyone to get sued over posting copyrighted material … especially US!

Reply | Quote