DAO Object
 
Fields collection contains all stored Field objects of an IndexQueryDefRecordsetRelation, or TableDef object.
 

Remarks

The Fields collections of the IndexQueryDefRelation, and TableDef objects contain the specifications for the fields those objects represent. The Fields collection of a Recordset object represents the Field objects in a row of data, or in a record. You use the Field objects in a Recordset object to read and to set values for the fields in the current record of the Recordset object.
 
To refer to a Field object in a collection by its ordinal number or by its Name property setting, use any of the following syntax forms:
Fields(0)
Fields("name")
Fields![name]
 
With the same syntax forms, you can also refer to the Value property of a Field object that you create and append to a Fields collection. The context of the field reference will determine whether you are referring to the Field object or the Value property of the Field object.
 

Methods

Name
Description
Adds a new Field to the Fields collection.
Deletes a Field from the Fields collection.
Updates the objects in the specified colletion to reflect the database's current schema.
 

Properties

Name
Description
Returns the number of objects in the specified collection. Read-only Integer.
 

Example

This example shows what properties are valid for a Field object depending on where the Field resides (for example, the Fields collection of a TableDef, the Fields collection of a QueryDef, and so forth). The FieldOutput procedure is required for this procedure to run.
 
Sub FieldX()
    
     Dim dbsNorthwind As Database
     Dim rstEmployees As Recordset
     Dim fldTableDef As Field
     Dim fldQueryDef As Field
     Dim fldRecordset As Field
     Dim fldRelation As Field
     Dim fldIndex As Field
     Dim prpLoop As Property
    
     Set dbsNorthwind = OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")
     Set rstEmployees = _
     dbsNorthwind.OpenRecordset("Employees")
    
     ' Assign a Field object from different Fields
     ' collections to object variables.
     Set fldTableDef = _
     dbsNorthwind.TableDefs(0).Fields(0)
     Set fldQueryDef =dbsNorthwind.QueryDefs(0).Fields(0)
     Set fldRecordset = rstEmployees.Fields(0)
     Set fldRelation =dbsNorthwind.Relations(0).Fields(0)
     Set fldIndex = _
     dbsNorthwind.TableDefs(0).Indexes(0).Fields(0)
    
     ' Print report.
     FieldOutput "TableDef", fldTableDef
     FieldOutput "QueryDef", fldQueryDef
     FieldOutput "Recordset", fldRecordset
     FieldOutput "Relation", fldRelation
     FieldOutput "Index", fldIndex
    
     rstEmployees.Close
     dbsNorthwind.Close
    
    End Sub
    
    Sub FieldOutput(strTemp As String, fldTemp As Field)
     ' Report function for FieldX.
    
     Dim prpLoop As Property
    
     Debug.Print "Valid Field properties in " & strTemp
    
     ' Enumerate Properties collection of passed Field
     ' object.
     For Each prpLoop In fldTemp.Properties
     ' Some properties are invalid in certain
     ' contexts (the Value property in the Fields
     ' collection of a TableDef for example). Any
     ' attempt to use an invalid property will
     ' trigger an error.
     On Error Resume Next
     Debug.Print " " & prpLoop.Name & " = " & _
     prpLoop.Value
     On Error GoTo 0
     Next prpLoop
    
End Sub
 
 
This example uses the CreateField method to create three Fields for a new TableDef. It then displays the properties of those Field objects that are automatically set by the CreateField method. (Properties whose values are empty at the time of Field creation are not shown.)
 
Sub CreateFieldX()
    
     Dim dbsNorthwind As Database
     Dim tdfNew As TableDef
     Dim fldLoop As Field
     Dim prpLoop As Property
    
     Set dbsNorthwind = OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")
    
     Set tdfNew = dbsNorthwind.CreateTableDef("NewTableDef")
    
     ' Create and append new Field objects for the new
     ' TableDef object.
     With tdfNew
     ' The CreateField method will set a default Size
     ' for a new Field object if one is not specified.
     .Fields.Append .CreateField("TextField", dbText)
     .Fields.Append .CreateField("IntegerField", dbInteger)
     .Fields.Append .CreateField("DateField", dbDate)
     End With
    
     dbsNorthwind.TableDefs.Append tdfNew
    
     Debug.Print "Properties of new Fields in " & tdfNew.Name
    
     ' Enumerate Fields collection to show the properties of
     ' the new Field objects.
     For Each fldLoop In tdfNew.Fields
     Debug.Print " " & fldLoop.Name
    
     For Each prpLoop In fldLoop.Properties
     ' Properties that are invalid in the context of
     ' TableDefs will trigger an error if an attempt
     ' is made to read their values.
     On Error Resume Next
     Debug.Print " " & prpLoop.Name & " - " & _
     IIf(prpLoop = "", "[empty]", prpLoop)
     On Error GoTo 0
     Next prpLoop
    
     Next fldLoop
    
     ' Delete new TableDef because this is a demonstration.
     dbsNorthwind.TableDefs.Delete tdfNew.Name
     dbsNorthwind.Close
    
End Sub