DoCmd.SetWarnings vs. CurrentDB.Execute: Which is Better for Error Handling in Access?

DoCmd.SetWarnings and CurrentDB.Execute: Demystifying Error Handling

In Access, programmers often face the dilemma of how to suppress unwanted warning dialog boxes while maintaining error visibility. DoCmd.SetWarnings and CurrentDB.Execute, two seemingly similar methods, handle this problem very differently.

DoCmd.SetWarnings

DoCmd.SetWarnings globally disables all warnings and error messages in Access. This affects the entire system, affecting all applications and databases. Disabling warnings indiscriminately can mask critical errors that require intervention. Additionally, forgetting to reset a warning to True can easily lead to unexpected behavior.

CurrentDB.Execute

On the other hand, CurrentDB.Execute directly executes the SQL statement without user confirmation. Unlike DoCmd.SetWarnings, it enables warnings to clarify why database execution failed. This provides necessary information without prompting users to perform actions they may not be able to handle.

Best Practices

As suggested by Access MVP Allen Browne, it is generally recommended to avoid using DoCmd.SetWarnings due to its indiscriminate nature. Instead, choose CurrentDB.Execute, which balances necessary warning and error handling capabilities.

Enhanced error control

To further improve error control, consider using an instance of CurrentDB. This allows for additional functionality including:

• Return the number of records
• Isolate error handling to specific database sessions

Recommended syntax:

<code>Set db = CurrentDB
db.Execute sSQL, dbFailOnError</code>

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