Firing a sql string at the database gives you lots of room to be very selective about what you'd like returned
Small example (using late binding which I prefer in production code) where I'm asking for a distinct list from the table column MyColumn
Dim cn As Object
Dim rs As Object
Set cn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
cn.Open strConn
cn.CommandTimeout = 0
Set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
Set rs.ActiveConnection = cn
'=====================
rs.Open "SELECT Distinct MyColumn AS C FROM myTable"
strConn
needs to be set to the correct connection string.
EDIT
Without being able to fire a sql
string at the database with the help of this post vba: get unique values from array I've got the following solution.
If you prefer early binding then references to the following will be required:
- Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (Im using 6.1 library)
- Microsoft Scripting runtime (this is so we can use a dictionary)
Code as follows:
Option Explicit
Global Const strConn As String = _
"PROVIDER=MySQLprovider;" & _
"P*SSWORD=MyPword;" & _
"USER ID=MyLogin;" & _
"INITIAL CATALOG=MyDB;" & _
"DATA SOURCE=MyServer;" & _
"USE PROCEDURE FOR PREPARE=1;" & _
"AUTO TRANSLATE=True;"
Sub getDistinctRecords()
Dim cn As ADODB.Connection
Set cn = New ADODB.Connection
cn.ConnectionTimeout = 0
cn.Open strConn
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.ActiveConnection = cn
'>>this mimics your record set with non-distinct members
rs.Open _
"SELECT 'a' as MyCol UNION ALL " & _
"SELECT 'a' as MyCol UNION ALL " & _
"SELECT 'b' as MyCol UNION ALL " & _
"SELECT 'b' as MyCol"
Dim Arr() As Variant
Arr = rs.GetRows()
Dim d As Scripting.Dictionary
Set d = New Scripting.Dictionary
Dim i As Long
For i = LBound(Arr, 2) To UBound(Arr, 2)
d(Arr(0, i)) = 1
Next i
Dim v As Variant
For Each v In d.Keys()
'>>d.Keys() is a Variant array of the unique values in myArray.
'>>v will iterate through each of them.
'>>to print to the immediate window
Debug.Print v
Next v
'=====================
'tidy up connection
On Error Resume Next
Set rs.ActiveConnection = Nothing
On Error GoTo 0
If Not (rs Is Nothing) Then
If (rs.State And 1) = 1 Then rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End If
If Not (cn Is Nothing) Then
If (cn.State And 1) = 1 Then cn.Close
Set cn = Nothing
End If
End Sub