topic Re: New to ArcMap VBA in Developers Questions

New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 19:55:38 GMT

Hello,

I am new to ArcMap VBA coding and was wondering if there is any good websites to help me understand what I am doing wrong. I have a basic knowledge of VBA for coding in access.

thanks in advance

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:01:19 GMT

Just curious why you are going with VBA and not the newer Python (arcpy)? What version of ArcMap are you using?

Also, what are you trying to do with the code? Are you just using it in the field calculator? Or are you trying to create a tool?

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:05:07 GMT

The only reason I am using VBA is due to the experience I do have with it. I am trying to create a tool. Or rather copy a tool from a ArcMap that my office has. but it has an error in it.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:11:02 GMT

Good reason (although long term, I would suggest thinking about a switch...just because many more resources).

It would help if you could post a snapshot of the error you are getting. Depending on the version of ArcMap, and when it was installed, it may be that you just need to install the "VBA compatibility" for the version. This can be downloaded in the myesri page under the "additiona products" for the ArcGIS version you have installed.

If you aren't the esri license manager/administrator, you may need to go ask them for permission or to download it for you.

I would also try doing a browser search for something like "esri vba help"

Hope that helps.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:15:31 GMT

I posted another question in here last week with the code and error and more info on it. its Help with Run time error 91.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

JoeBorgione — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:16:18 GMT

Rebecca is spot on; python is well worth your while to pursue. It'll be the thing until the next big thing comes along, which has already happened to VBA.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:18:33 GMT

Does python have the ability to open microsoft access database?

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:26:43 GMT

I don;t have any experience with that so I'll bow out, but didn't did find this

https://wiki.python.org/moin/Microsoft%20Access

re: python.

Might be a different answer if you are talking personal GDB that used Access. I'll let Dan Patterson or some of the other python-heads get into that. Might be more than you need re: you original question. But I bet the link to the other question you have could be re-written by someone in python (I have no time right now to get into it)

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

JoeBorgione — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:35:27 GMT

I can't answer that either but I bet one of these guys will chime in :

Darren Wiens

Xander Bakker

[edit] take a look here too: Another GIS Blog: Using pyODBC to Connect To Access with ArcPy

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:47:34 GMT

Skip access, export to csv format, then anything can read it.

As you move forward from the python 2.7 etc to python 3.4 and ArcGIS PRO and ... dare I suggest ... maybe even 10.4, you have access to Pandas and Numpy

Importing Access files

or just bring it into Arc* for use there.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

AdrianWelsh — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:50:17 GMT

I was once big time into VBA so I feel your pain in trying to switch over to something else. But, like others have said, it is time to make the switch and I would recommend Python.

I am not fully sure on opening MS Access with Python but I found this website that mentions how to connect to an Access database so I would imagine that this would be able to direct you in the path you want to go:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1047580/ms-access-library-for-python

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:57:24 GMT

Here's what I am looking for with access. I have created a database of all of my company's work orders and their location in the county. So currently I am trying to create a tool that when you click on that location on the map. it opens access to that location in the form that has been created. Is this possible with Python? If so I am more then willing to attempt to learn that. As I do prefer to use the most current things.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 21:02:42 GMT

If you migrate your database into ArcMap, then it could be as simple as using the Info button or as complex as you like.. either through Arcpy functions and/or python. I just don't know what level of experience you have with ArcMap and I am not sure if you want to migrate your data into a new form

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

EthanDunker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 21:16:04 GMT

I don't have much experience at all with ArcMap. I just started working with it 2 weeks ago. About all I can do it link a access table and have it display different symbols based on different values.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

XanderBakker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 22:05:11 GMT

You could use pypyodbc 1.1.5 : Python Package Index to work with Access files in Python, but I also see you have forms in the code you posted here Help with Run time error 91 . I didn't look at it in detail and I don't use ArcObjects anymore.

I do believe there is a lot you can do with Python and it is better prepared for the future (VBA will disappear).

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

MarkBryant — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 21:53:05 GMT

I would use the win32com api to communicate with access via python. This way you can open the existing form.

Please note that win32com is no longer installed by default with the newer versions of ArcGIS

I have included a snippet of code below to help

import win32com.client

# Create the Access object
app=win32com.client.Dispatch("Access.Application")

accessDB = r'path to the mdb here'
try:
    # Make Application Visible
    app.Visible=1     
    app.OpenCurrentDatabase(accessDB)

    # https://msdn.microsoft.com/EN-US/library/office/ff820845.aspx
    app.DoCmd.OpenForm(FormName, View, FilterName, WhereCondition, DataMode, WindowMode, OpenArgs)  
    
    # https://msdn.microsoft.com/EN-US/library/office/ff192676.aspx
    #app.DoCmd.OpenReport(ReportName, View, FilterName, WhereCondition, WindowMode, OpenArgs)

    # https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff192075.aspx
    #app.DoCmd.RunMacro(MacroName)


except:
    # Add your error handler
    pass

# run these statements no matter where the program goes
finally:
    if app:
        app.CloseCurrentDatabase
        app.Quit()
        del app

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

AndrewQuee — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 01:12:43 GMT

It's worthwhile noting that Esri has been warning users to switch over and threatening to get rid of VBA for many years, since 10.0, and you are developing in what is essentially an unsupported environment.

ArcGIS Desktop and VBA? | ArcGIS Blog (2009)

"Is VBA supported at ArcGIS 10.1?

At ArcGIS 10.1 there will not be an ArcObjects VBA SDK nor will new VBA development with ArcGIS for Desktop be supported. There will be an optional separate setup for legacy VBA support in the ArcGIS applications. This will require an additional licence authorisation similar to ArcGIS 10.

VBA will be available if needed so existing solutions can continue to work while the code is being migrated to .NET. We recommend all users with VBA code start migrating now to an add-in or custom extension using the ArcObjects SDK for .NET or Java. This is the end of the support of VBA as a development or customisation language for ArcGIS."

- See more at: https://esriaustralia.com.au/products-arcgis-software-101-faqs#7 " (2011, emphasis mine)

To actually answer your question there's quite a bit of legacy code still available at places like stackoverflow and Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange. I also use a lot of the original resources such as ArcObjects 10 VBA SDK Help.

Asides from the ArcObjects-specific help, there is a wealth of internet VBA resources, mostly centered around Microsoft Office, particularly Excel if you're looking for a non-GIS coding solution. So, if for example you want to get VBA to talk to Access then visiting MS support sites and forums would be the way to go.

Edit: Reworded last sentence so it didn't misconstrue Ethan's question.

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

GreggNoland — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 21:05:31 GMT

Hey, Ethan....

Been working with ArcMap/VBA since ArcGIS 8.0 beta, so I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about it. But like the others have suggested, moving to something supported would be a good idea. Python can do a lot of stuff, but it can't do all of the things VBA and ArcObjects could do, so I'd suggest that if you need that much power, you move to VB.NET. The express version is free. It's even easier to build tools for ArcMap not that it has been in the past.

I'll look for your original error message from your VBA and see what I can determine from just that.

Gregg@ptarmigansoftware.com

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

ChadStidham — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 21:53:08 GMT

As far as connecting to an Access database I'd recommend the pypyodbc module:

import pypyodbc

DB = r'C:\Folder\test.mdb'; DRV = '{Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}'; PWD = ''
conn = pypyodbc.connect('DRIVER={};DBQ={};PWD={}'.format(DRV,MDB,PWD))
SQL = 'SELECT * FROM Table'

records = conn.cursor().execute(SQL).fetchall()

for record in records:
    print record

conn.close()

I also recommend looking into setuptools and pip for installing python modules that do not come with the standard install:

setuptools 20.0 : Python Package Index

pip 8.0.2 : Python Package Index

Re: New to ArcMap VBA

JamesCrandall — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 14:41:12 GMT

Just move entirely into a File Geodatabase and model your existing Access tables there, relate them to any Feature Classes, set domains/subtypes, editor tracking and be done with it. You will be opening up your implementation into a whole new world and have capabilities you likely don't even know about (like easily publishing to the web, collector, Web AppBuilder, StoryMaps, and on and on...).

VBA is a dead-end street that has a bunch of foreclosed properties down it.