How can I get a list of tables in an Access (Jet) database?

Question

I need to see if a table exists in an Access database used by my c# program. Is know there are SQL commands for other databases that will return a list of tables. Is there such a command for Access/Jet databases?

Answer 1

Try the GetSchema()

    connection.ConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=c:\\access.mdb";    

    connection.Open();

    DataTable userTables = connection.GetSchema("Tables");

Answer 2

Full code : Get List of Tables in an Access Database - ADO.NET Tutorials

// Microsoft Access provider factory
DbProviderFactory factory =
    DbProviderFactories.GetFactory("System.Data.OleDb");

DataTable userTables = null;

using (DbConnection connection =
            factory.CreateConnection())
{
    // c:\test\test.mdb
    connection.ConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft
        .Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=c:\\test\\test.mdb";

    // We only want user tables, not system tables
    string[] restrictions = new string[4];
    restrictions[3] = "Table";

    connection.Open();

    // Get list of user tables
    userTables =
        connection.GetSchema("Tables", restrictions);
}

// Add list of table names to listBox
for (int i=0; i < userTables.Rows.Count; i++)
    listBox1.Items.Add(userTables.Rows[i][2].ToString())

here is answer for you : http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/adodotnetdataproviders/thread/d2eaf851-fc06-49a1-b7bd-bca76669783e

Answer 3

Something like this should do the trick. The clause Type = 1 specifies tables. Note that this will also include the system tables in the result set (they start with the prefix "MSys".

SELECT Name FROM MSysObjects WHERE Type = 1