How to link Access table to SQL Server with VBA - sql-server

Question

I am trying to create a linked (or imported) table in Access with a SQL Server backend. Basically the business users periodically need a copy of the table [SQL Rulesnew] (yes, with the space, sigh) so we want to give them a little Access 2003 tool that will do the job on demand.
I did try using Docmd.TransferDataBase acTable but no luck
here is the code I am using:
Sub getData()
Dim sConnStr As String
Dim oTable As TableDef
Dim sDestinationTable As String
Dim dbs As Database
Dim tbl As DAO.TableDef
Dim tblLinked As DAO.TableDef
sDestinationTable = "SQL Rulesnew"
Set dbs = CurrentDb
' source table name has a SPACE (rolleyes!)
CurrentDb.CreateTableDef sDestinationTable
' got the below from a Data Link File (UDL)
sConnStr = "Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;Initial Catalog=MYDBNAME;Data Source=MYSERVERNAME"
' the below also failed!
'DoCmd.TransferDatabase acLink, "ODBC Database", "ODBC;Driver={SQL Server};Server=Fos;Database=Hermes_Rep;Trusted_Connection=Yes", acTable, "[Report SQLRulesnew]", "SQLRules" & VBA.Format(Now, "ddmmyyyy")
'If DCount("*", "MSysObjects", "[Name]='[SQL Rulesnew]' AND [Type] In (1, 4, 6)") > 0 Then
If IsTable(sDestinationTable) Then
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, sDestinationTable
End If
Set tblLinked = dbs.CreateTableDef(sDestinationTable)
Debug.Print "Linking the " & sDestinationTable
tblLinked.Connect = sConnStr
tblLinked.SourceTableName = sDestinationTable
dbs.TableDefs.Append tblLinked
tblLinked.RefreshLink
End Sub
Function IsTable(sTblName As String) As Boolean
'does table exists and work ?
'note: finding the name in the TableDefs collection is not enough,
' since the backend might be invalid or missing
Dim x
On Error GoTo Coventry
x = DCount("*", sTblName)
IsTable = True
Exit Function
Coventry:
Debug.Print Now, sTblName, Err.Number, Err.Description
IsTable = False
End Function
unfortunately I get an error could not find installable ISAM on the line dbs.TableDefs.Append tblLinked
what should I do?
thanks
Philip

Answer 1

I found the answer through trial and error...
Basically my table names in Access can have a space without using the [square brackets],
so the below command works fine (after deleting any existing object):
DoCmd.TransferDatabase _
acImport, _
"ODBC Database", _
"ODBC;Driver={SQL Server};Server=Fos;Database=Hermes;Trusted_Connection=Yes", _
acTable, _
"sourceTable", _
"targetTable"