MS Access 2010 Web Database Attachment Field in SharePoint

Question

Hello All,

Sorry if someone has already asked this question but I can't find this specific scenario in the forums.

I have an Access 2010 Web database linked to SharePoint tables on Office365. One of the tables has an attachment field with documents that were attached when the database was still a single-file accdb (before splitting and sharing to SharePoint). When I access a .docx attachment by going into SharePoint it opens the file up in Online Word and saves changes that I make. However if I try to open the attached Word doc from the Access FE it downloads the file as read-only and I am not sure how I would go about editing/updating it. Is there a way to have the Access FE open the attachment in Online Word in a browser window? If not and the user has to download the file to update it, is there a way to automate the update to save the new version over the SharePoint version.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi AccessDatabase,

>> However if I try to open the attached Word doc from the Access FE it downloads the file as read-only and I am not sure how I would go about editing/updating it

Have you tried to create a form based on this sharepoint list? As my test, we could not create a form based on this list. As far as I know, when we link to sharePoint list, this table is read-only at Access web database, and we could not modify the records.

If you want to modify the word document, you need to modify it from SharePoint site.

If this is a feature you want to include in the future version of Access, I suggest you submit a feedback in the link below:
http://access.uservoice.com/

Best Regards,

Edward

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Answer 2

Hi. Pardon me for jumping in, but I think there may be a way for web databases (Access 2010) because they use SharePoint Lists for tables, unlike web apps (Access 2013), which use SQL Azure for tables. However, I don't have a web database to test to tell you how to do it. I can think of two ways to try: 1. Use WebDAV to save the attachment back to SharePoint, or 2. Use a URL pointing to the attachment so it will open up in Word Online for editing.

Just my 2 cents...

Answer 3

Hi, thanks for your replies.

I realise I made a mistake when I initially described the situation.  The database isn't a Web Database, it is a standard accdb Access 2010 FE which is linked to a SharePoint BE (lists).  Users have the Access FE locally on their PC.

I'm not familiar with WebDAV and how it works with Access so I thought the URL pointing to the attachment on SharePoint might be the way to go.  Is there a way to dynamically generate the URL so that each one doesn't have to be entered manually?

Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

Answer 4

Is there a way to dynamically generate the URL so that each one doesn't have to be entered manually?

I believe SharePoint follows/uses a pretty standard naming convention. Each attachment is stored in a specific "folder" (identified by its GUID). If you can find out what that value is, you can then add it to your code, so the user doesn't have to remember it. You might also be able to determine the ID for the attachment itself, so that the user won't have to worry about that part too.

Just my 2 cents...

Answer 5

Could someone elaborate on the above... ie

"Each attachment is stored in a specific "folder" (identified by its GUID). If you can find out what that value is, you can then add it to your code, so the user doesn't have to remember it"

Has anyone tried this? found the GUID and used for link? How did the user select the file / GUID?

Thanks