renamed fields - can references to old name be auto updated?

[josephwalter]

I'm supposed to rename the fields (and table names) in a database that I've inherited. But if I do, none of the queries, forms, reports, or VB code will work properly. Is there some kind of program that I could use to carry forward the name changes - rather than spending an eternity going through all the database objects to find and rename each reference to the field/table?

 

[MichaelRed]

There are third party tools ("SpeedFerret&quot which advertise this capability and there are a few tools similar to it in the public domain (I do not recall their names).

That being said, I would question the directive. What POSSIBLE reason exists for re-naming tables and fields of a database? Except in EXTREME circumstances, object naming is not a management decision. Even where an organization has (or adopts) a naming convention, imposing such on legacy software is not a normal process. At a mininum, the "management" should be made FORCEFULLY aware of the costs and potential consequences (I would present this in formal terms and have a signed directive to procede before going forward).

MichaelRed
m.red@att.net

Searching for employment in all the wrong places

 

[josephwalter]

Thank you for the reply and the advice. Our IS staff is having trouble maintaining these database, and we feel that more standardized and meaningful field and object names (among other things) will make these databases easier to work with. They're all pretty small, so I don't believe that altering them will be too much work - Although I do agree that it will be (in some part) a pain in the butt.

FYI: I've discovered a Name AutoCorrect feature in Access 2000 and later. I'll be taking a look at the SpeedFerret software you suggested, as well.

Thank you.

 

[MichaelRed]

I can ASSURE you that "AutoCorrect" is inadequate for any except the MOST trivial databases. It is only marginally useful (or destructive -depending on your point of view) in monolythic databases which only ever refer to 'objects' directly ny the name. So, for example, a query is referred to in CODE, the name will not get changed.


MichaelRed
m.red@att.net

Searching for employment in all the wrong places