In MS Access SQL Server Linked Table pass through query - sql-server

Question

I have a query against a linked table in MS Access that uses the getdate() function of SQL Server. However, I get this error when I attempt to run the query:
Undefined function GetDate in function
How do I create a linked table that allows the use of SQL Server T-SQL syntax? I see that this is called a pass through query but I don't know how to set it up to use the connection on the linked table as a pass through query.
Currently using Access 2010. The query is:
select getdate()
If it helps, I used the following vba code that generates the table link to SQL Server:
Function LinkTable(LinkedTableAlias As String, Server As String, Database As String, SourceTableName As String, OverwriteIfExists As Boolean, Username As String, Password As String)
'This method will also update the link if the underlying table definition has been modified.
If (InStr(1, LinkedTableAlias, "MSys") > 0) Then
Log "Skipping " & LinkedTableAlias
Exit Function
End If
'The overwrite parameter will cause it to re-map/refresh the link for LinktedTable Alias, but only if it was already a linked table.
' it will not overwrite an existing query or local table with the name specified in LinkedTableAlias.
'Links to a SQL Server table without the need to set up a DSN in the ODBC Console.
Dim tdfLinked As DAO.TableDef
' Open a database to which a linked table can be appended.
Dim dbsCurrent As Database
Set dbsCurrent = CurrentDb()
'Check for and deal with the scenario ofthe table alias already existing
If TableNameInUse(LinkedTableAlias) Then
'If InStr(dbsCurrent.TableDefs(LinkedTableAlias).Connect, "AccessBackup") Then
' Exit Function
'End If
If (Not OverwriteIfExists) Then
Log "Can't use name '" + LinkedTableAlias + "' because it would overwrite existing table."
Exit Function
End If
'delete existing table, but only if it is a linked table
'If IsLinkedTable(LinkedTableAlias) Then
dbsCurrent.TableDefs.Delete LinkedTableAlias
dbsCurrent.TableDefs.Refresh
'Else
' Log "Can't use name '" + LinkedTableAlias + "' because it would overwrite an existing query or local table."
' Exit Function
'End If
End If
'Create a linked table
Set tdfLinked = dbsCurrent.CreateTableDef(LinkedTableAlias)
tdfLinked.SourceTableName = SourceTableName
tdfLinked.Connect = "ODBC;DRIVER={SQL Server};SERVER=" & Server & ";DATABASE=" & Database & ";UID=" & Username & ";PWD=" & Password & ";"
On Error Resume Next
dbsCurrent.TableDefs.Append tdfLinked
If (err.Number = 3626) Then 'too many indexes on source table for Access
err.Clear
On Error GoTo 0
If LinkTable(LinkedTableAlias, Server, Database, "vw" & SourceTableName, OverwriteIfExists, Username, Password) Then
Log "Can't link directly to table '" + SourceTableName + "' because it contains too many indexes for Access to handle. Linked to view '" & "vw" & SourceTableName & "' instead."
LinkTable = True
Else
Log "Can't link table '" + SourceTableName + "' because it contains too many indexes for Access to handle. Create a view named '" & "vw" & SourceTableName & "' that selects all rows/columns from '" & SourceTableName & "' and try again to circumvent this."
LinkTable = False
End If
Exit Function
End If
On Error GoTo 0
'** Turn on error handling
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler:
tdfLinked.RefreshLink
LinkTable = True
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
Log "refreshlink failed for " & tdfLinked.Name
LinkTable = True

Answer 1

I don't quite understand this statement:
How to I create a linked table that allows the use of SQL Server T-SQL
syntax?
But this is how you convert an existing MS Access querydef to a pass through query:
Go to design mode in the query, press the Query menu command, then SQL Specific then Pass Through
See this for screenshots.
http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1482/microsoft-access-pass-through-queries-to-sql-server/

Answer 2

The reason why you are getting the error is that GETDATE() is not a function inside MSAccess. You probably need Now() to get the date and time or you may use Date() which provides the date

Answer 3

Here's a quick and dirty VBA way to create a pass-through query:
Set qdf = CurrentDb.CreateQueryDef("testqry")
' this is just your connection string
qdf.Connect = "ODBC;Driver={SQL Server};Server=MSSQL1; Database=MyDB;Trusted_Connection=Yes"
'anything here gets passed directly to and executed on the SQL Server
qdf.SQL = "select getdate()"
Set qdf = Nothing
Now you can use "testqry" as if it's any other Access query (as far as SELECTing from it goes, anyway)

Answer 4

Simple save your t-sql query as a pass-though
Select GetDate()
Then in VBA code, you can go:
TheSqlDate = currentdb.QueryDefs("qPass").OpenRecordset()(0)
Using ADO, and hardcoding connection strings, and the HUGE whacks of other code posted here is just a way to rack up billable hours and create world poveity. My posted solution IS ONLY ONE LINE OF CODE!