How to save Windows file information and in an Access Database

If you need to save a list of file information in a database table, there are three steps:

1. Collect the files to be listed and extract the information you need from them.
2. Save the list to a disk file in XML format for Access 2007 (or CSV or tab format for Access 2003).
3. Import the XML file into the database either as a new table or appended to an an existing table.

Our product, DDFileCatcher, performs the first 2 steps. It lists Windows files by accepting files and folders dragged and dropped from Windows Explorer. It can search subfolders and entire disks and save the file information to XML files for importing into your database. It also has a lot of other useful format options and uses.

Saves file information for Microsoft Access tables
Lists over 20 Windows file properties
Simple drag drop functionality makes selection of files and folders for listing simple
Also puts file lists directly into Microsoft Excel
Multiple output formats available
Lists from 1 to thousands of files

Buy DDFileCatcher
Only $29.00
60-day money back guarantee

Download free trial version of DDFileCatcher

In this example, we want to put the two files below in a new Access table. We launch DDFileCatcher and drag and drop the files onto it. We select "XML without DTD" from the toolbar, and then save the file information to an XML file, using the "To file..." toolbar button. "Without DTD" means the XML file with not begin extra information (Document Type Definition) about the file's structure. This information would cause extra tables to be created in when imported into Access. This method also works with other databases and applications that can import XML files.

files for saving to XML

With Microsoft Access 2007, use the "XML File" button on the "External Data" tab. You will be led through a procedure to import the XML you saved either into a new table or at the end of an existing table.

Use the "Browse" button to find the XML file containing the file information you saved with DDFileCatcher.

On the next page of the Access XML import wizard, select the import option you want. For a new table, this should be "Structure with Data".

You should only choose "Append Data to Existing Table(s)" if the XML file you saved with DDFileCatcher has the same file properties in the same order as the table to which you want to append the information.

The file information is now in the Access table, and can be filtered, manipulated, and used in any way in the database. This example uses just 2 files and 3 file properties. Over 180 file properties and thousands of files can be listed with DDFileCatcher.

import csv file into access 2003 wizard For older databases that do not accept XML file import, such as Access 2003, the file list from DDFileCatcher should be saved in either CSV (comma separated variable) or tab delimited format. In Access 2003, click the "New" button on the project window to open the "New Table" form, and import the file.

Select the "Delimited" option, and the file properties will be placed in their respective columns.

Buy DDFileCatcher
Only $29.00
60-day money back guarantee

Download free trial version of DDFileCatcher

"All the sample files, which are spread out over an number of discs hidden in deep directories, have now been listed and location registered into an Access Database where I can rate them, find them, sort and finally relate each samples to the individual composition projects, which can use many samples. DDFileCatcher has saved me an enormous amount of work and is well worth what I paid for it". Gordon Corbridge, SONAR synthesizer software user