How to get data into an MSACCESS Database?
Posted: Friday, June 12, 2009
by Fadi Hiyari
http://www.msaccess-skillbuildit.com
MSACCESS is probably one of the most under utilized packages in MS office suite. The main reason being lack of knowledge on how to use the system.
MSACCESS is one of the most important packages that enables the user to create databases and analyze information quickly and reliably.
In this article, we will be exploring the different ways available for you to bring the data into an MSACCESS database. It is obvious that data can be keyed into the database record by record but this is not what we want to talk about. What we want to cover is how to get the data into the database if we have it stored somewhere outside the database, in a text file, excel sheet or may be in another database.
- Linking Tables If the data is stored outside the database in an excel sheet or a text file or even another MSACCESS database, then you might consider linking the data. To do that, click on the Tables object from the general database interface. Right mouse click inside the database window in any empty space, a menu will be displayed. Choose Link Tables and then follow the wizard steps to link the data into the database. It is worth mentioning that once you finish, MSACCESS will create a linked table that you can give a suitable name of your own. The linked table can be used as any other table, so you can build queries, reports or forms based on the linked table. However, the main distinction between a normal table and a linked table is that the linked table data does not reside in the database. It is outside the database and the linked table merely functions as a tunnel towards that data wherever it is stored.
- Importing the data You can import the data from wherever it is into your database. From the menu discussed in step one above, choose Import instead of Link Tables. Follow the wizard steps and the data will finally be copied from its current source into a newly created table in the database. This table differs from the Linked Table as it is a normal table created inside the database and filled with the data that was imported.
- Copying the data manually into the database You can create a new table inside the database that matches the structure of the data that you want to import. Then open this new table in datasheet view, of course it has no records yet. Go to the data source, if it is an excel sheet or another table in another database, copy the records that you want to import into your own database and then go back to the table and insert the records into the new table.
- Create ODBCs ODBCs acts as links to other databases whether MSACCESS Databases or SQL Server databases or other types of databases. Once an ODBC is created, a tunnel opens between the two databases that enables the exchange of data between tables in the two databases.
MSACCESS is one of the most powerful systems available for information analysis. Once mastered, powerful applications can be built.
For more information about this topic and other topics related to MSACCESS visit:
http://ww.msaccess-skillbuildit.com
Fadi Hiyari is an application designer and builder using the MSACCESS system for the past 10 year. His applications vary from financial management systems to GPS tracking and various applications to suite certain information needs.
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