How do I get a popup form to select data from an Access database

[ProfessorSax]

Building an enterprise architecture model of a large enterprise. The basic
model is much like the DoD Enterprise Architecture framework or the Federal
Enterprise Architecture DFamework models. In those models there is a data
dictionary that resides in a table in an Access database, defining the
entities in the model. I use Visio to model the enterprise, using custom
Visio stencils. Each master in the stencil could be applicable to a number
of entities in the data dictionary. What I'd like to do is this: When the
user drags a shape on on of the model products, open a form with a drop-down
pick list to allow the user to choos the desired entity from teh Access data
dictionary, or if none exists, define it in Visio and export the results to
Access, defining a new entity. After selecting or defining the entity, I
also want the text I selected or supplied to show up on text blocks grouped
under the Visio shape. What is the best approach to doing this? Should I
add References from Access to the Visio References and create, basically a
form bound to the Access table? Or is it better to have the Access dabase
open, use one of its forms, and somehow export the results back to Visio? Or
should I create a form within a Visio project (VB6) and connect and bind it
to the Access database?

I am running Access 2003, Visio 2003, and have the full Developer's Edition
of Microsoft Office with the MSDN extras, etc.

 

[David Parker]

This sounds like a job for the Database Wizard....

 

[ProfessorSax]

David,

Thanks, but can you explain how to get the Database Wizard to open a form in
Visio? I really don't think it was meant for that. Somehow, I need a pick
list on a data-bound form derived from a query whose parameter(s) originate
in Visio, are passed to Access, which executes the query and returns records
to the form's pick list.

 

[David Parker]

The Database Wizard has its own dialog to prompt for the selected secord
from a table/view for a single key value, or for upto 5 fields that combine
to make a unique identifier for a record. The dialog will filter the
selections for each field based on your selection in the previous field.

The Custom Properties/Dhape Data Window and Dialog wil then be avialable for
editing each shape.

The Wizard does not open an Access form - you could write your own code to
do that.