Field2.SaveToFile Method (DAO)

Saves an attachment to disk.

Version Information

Version Added: Access 2007

Syntax

expression .SaveToFile(FileName)

expression A variable that represents a Field2 object.

Parameters

Name	Required/Optional	Data Type	Description
FileName	Required	String	The fully qualified path of the file to which you want to save the attachment.

Example

The following code snippet illustrates how to use the SaveToFile method to save all of the attachments for a specific employee to disk.

'  Instantiate the parent recordset.  
   Set rsEmployees = db.OpenRecordset("Employees") 
  
   … Code to move to desired employee 
  
   ' Instantiate the child recordset. 
   Set rsPictures = rsEmployees.Fields("Pictures").Value  
 
   '  Loop through the attachments. 
   While Not rsPictures.EOF 
  
      '  Save current attachment to disk in the "My Documents" folder. 
      rsPictures.Fields("FileData").SaveToFile _ 
                  "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents" 
      rsPictures.MoveNext 
   Wend 

The following example shows how to save the files stored in an attachment field to the specified folder path.

Sample code provided by: The Microsoft Access 2010 Programmer’s Reference | About the Contributors

Public Function SaveAttachments(strPath As String, Optional strPattern As String = "*.*") As Long
    Dim dbs As DAO.Database
    Dim rst As DAO.Recordset2
    Dim rsA As DAO.Recordset2
    Dim fld As DAO.Field2
    Dim strFullPath As String
    
    'Get the database, recordset, and attachment field
    Set dbs = CurrentDb
    Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordset("tblAttachments")
    Set fld = rst("Attachments")
    
    'Navigate through the table
    Do While Not rst.EOF
    
        'Get the recordset for the Attachments field
        Set rsA = fld.Value
        
        'Save all attachments in the field
        Do While Not rsA.EOF
            If rsA("FileName") Like strPattern Then
                strFullPath = strPath & "\" & rsA("FileName")
                
                'Make sure the file does not exist and save
                If Dir(strFullPath) = "" Then
                    rsA("FileData").SaveToFile strFullPath
                End If
                
                'Increment the number of files saved
                SaveAttachments = SaveAttachments + 1
            End If
            
            'Next attachment
            rsA.MoveNext
        Loop
        rsA.Close
        
        'Next record
        rst.MoveNext
    Loop
    
    rst.Close
    dbs.Close
    
    Set fld = Nothing
    Set rsA = Nothing
    Set rst = Nothing
    Set dbs = Nothing
End Function

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