Question

All tables in a certain database have the exact columns, so I’m wondering if there is a way I can query all of them at once for a specific few columns that I know every table will have. The reason I want to do this is that the number of tables in the database will constantly be growing, and I don’t want to have to every day go and change my query to accommodate the names of the new tables.

Help is appreciated as always

Answer 1

In that case, try ADO:

Function ListTablesContainingField(SelectFieldName) As String
   'Tables returned will include linked tables
   'I have added a little error coding. I don't normally do that
   'for examples, so don't read anything into it :) 
   Dim cn As New ADODB.Connection
   Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
   Dim strTempList As String

       On Error GoTo Error_Trap

       Set cn = CurrentProject.Connection

       'Get names of all tables that have a column called <SelectFieldName>
       Set rs = cn.OpenSchema(adSchemaColumns, _
       Array(Empty, Empty, Empty, SelectFieldName))

       'List the tables that have been selected
       While Not rs.EOF
           'Exclude MS system tables
           If Left(rs!Table_Name, 4) <> "MSys" Then
               strTempList = strTempList & "," & rs!Table_Name
           End If
           rs.MoveNext
       Wend

       ListTablesContainingField = Mid(strTempList, 2)

   Exit_Here:

       rs.Close
       Set cn = Nothing
       Exit Function

   Error_Trap:

       MsgBox Err.Description
       Resume Exit_Here
   End Function

From: http://wiki.lessthandot.com/index.php/ADO_Schemas

You might like to consider a table of tables, if you have not already got one, that lists the linked Excel tables and holds details of archive dates etc, because you will run into limits at some stage.