MDB import

Data import from a MS Access file

This topic describes how to import data from a MS Access (2003, 2007+) file.

  1. Decide what table to import the data to:

    For a new table:

    • On the Database menu, click Import Data. The Data Import wizard opens.

    For an existing table:

    • Right-click a table in Database Explorer and select Import Data from the shortcut menu. The Data Import wizard opens with predefined parameters: a Microsoft SQL Server connection, a database, and a table to import the data to.

    • Alternatively, on the Database menu click Import Data, and select a required table on the Destination table wizard page.

  2. Select MS Access import format and specify a location of Source file. Click Next.

    If the Source data is protected with a password, the Open MS Access database dialog box appears where you should enter the password.

  3. Select a Source table or view. To quickly find them in the list, enter characters of a required name into the Filter field. The list will be filtered to show only those that contain such characters in their names.

    You can use a query for partial data import. Click Custom Query and edit the query. Click OK to save the changes.

  4. Specify a Target SQL Server connection, a database, a schema, and a table to import the data to. If you selected a table in Database Explorer before opening the Data Import wizard, the wizard will open with the predefined connection parameters of the selected table. To create or edit Microsoft SQL Server connections, click the corresponding buttons. Click Next.
  5. Specify data formats for the Source data and click Next.

  6. Map the Source columns to the Target ones. If you are importing the data into a new table, dbForge Studio for SQL Server will automatically create and map all the columns. If you are importing into an existing table, only columns with the same names will be mapped, the rest should be mapped manually. (If no columns with the same name are found, they are mapped in succession - the 1st column in Source with the 1st column in Target, etc.)

    See the Target columns in the top and the Source columns at the bottom of the wizard page. Click Source column fields and select required columns from the drop-down list.

  7. If you are importing to a new table, you can edit the Target column properties by double-clicking them in the top grid. Select the Key check box for a column with a primary Key and click Next.
  8. Select an import mode to define how dbForge Studio for SQL Server should import the data. Click Next.
  9. Select how dbForge Studio for SQL Server should handle errors during import and whether you want to get a log file with details about the import session.
  10. Click Import and see the import progress. dbForge Studio for SQL Server will notify you whether the import completed successfully or failed. Click the Show log file button to open the log file.
  11. Click Finish to finish the import and close the wizard.

Note

  1. Data Import Wizard pages can slightly differ due to the product you have been using.
  2. To cancel mapping of all the columns, click Clear Mappings on the toolbar. To restore it, click Fill Mapping.
  3. You should select at least one column with a primary key, otherwise some of import modes on the Modes wizard page will be disabled.
  4. You can save the import settings as a template for future uses. Click the Save Template button on any wizard page to save the selected settings. Next time you should only select a template and specify a location of the Source data - all the settings will be already set. For more information, refer to the Using Templates topic.

Bulk import using a PowerShell script

You can use a PowerShell script to import data from multiple tables into new tables.

1. Create a folder on your computer for the MDB files that you want to import.

Note

If a file name contains a dot, it is replaced with an underscore in the table name after the bulk import.

2. Create a configuration file with the connection properties for the target database:

2.1. Open any text editor.

2.2. Enter the database connection properties for the target database. Separate each value with a comma.

2.3. Save the .txt file, for example, as databases_config_sqlserver.txt.

  • Server – The server name where the target database is located.

  • Database – The name of the target database.

  • Authentication – False for SQL Server authentication, and True for Windows authentication.

  • Login – The SQL Server login name.

  • Password – The SQL Server login password.

3. Create the import template file:

3.1. In the top menu, select Database > Tasks > Import Data.

3.2. Select MS Access and load a MS Access source file that you have already placed in the folder. Then click Next.

3.3. Optional: Configure data import options.

3.4. Click the arrow next to Save and select Save Template.

Save Template option

4. Open Windows PowerShell.

5. In the editor, enter the following script. Replace the parameters with your actual values.

# Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

$configFile = "<path_to_config_file_with_database_connection_properties>" 

$diffToolLocation = "<path_to_dbforge_studio_for_sql_server_file>"

$importPath = "<path_to_folder_with_ms_access_files>"

$importTemplate = "<path_to_import_template_file>"

$databases = Get-Content $configFile | ForEach-Object {
    $fields = $_ -split ","
    [PSCustomObject]@{
        Host     = $fields[0]
        Database = $fields[1]
        Security = $fields[2]
        User     = $fields[3]
        Password = $fields[4]
    }
}
# Extract database configuration
$MasterDB = $databases[0]


$fileNames = @(Get-ChildItem -Path "$importPath" -Filter *.mdb | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name)
Write-Output "File:" $filenames 
   
     foreach ($fileName in $fileNames) {  
              Write-Output "Processing file: $fileName"
              $inputfile = "$importPath$fileName"
              $table = $fileName.Substring(0, $fileName.Length - 4) 
              $tableName = $table.Replace(".", "_") 
 
              #Command-line string for importing data into your SQL Server database
              $process = Start-Process -FilePath $diffToolLocation -ArgumentList "
              /dataimport 
              /templatefile:`"$importTemplate`" 
              /connection:`"Data Source=$($MasterDB.Host);Initial Catalog=$($MasterDB.Database);Integrated Security=$($MasterDB.Security);User ID=$($MasterDB.User);Password=$($MasterDB.Password)`" 
              /inputfile:`"$inputfile`" 
              /table:`"$($MasterDB.Database).dbo.$tableName`"
              /inputtable:`"$tableName`"
              /errormode:abort 
              /create " -PassThru -Wait  -windowstyle hidden     
         
               if ($process.ExitCode -eq 0) {
                    Write-Output "File import $fileName completed successfully into table $tableName"             
               } else {
                    Write-Output "Errors occurred while importing files $fileName"             
               }
              Write-Output "ExitCode:" $process.ExitCode            


    #If you need to process the tables one by one to reduce server load - uncomment it.
    #Start-Sleep -Seconds 10                        
      }
  • <path_to_config_file_with_database_connection_properties> – The path to the configuration file that contains the database connection properties.
  • <path_to_dbforge_studio_for_sql_server_file> – The path to the dbForge Studio for SQL Server configuration file.

The default path to this executable depends on where dbForge Studio for SQL Server is installed. If you installed dbForge Studio:

  • As a standalone tool: C:\Program Files\Devart\dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

  • As a part of the dbForge Edge bundle: C:\Program Files\Devart\dbForge Edge\dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

  • <path_to_folder_with_ms_access_files> – The path to the folder that contains MS Access files.
  • <path_to_import_template_file> – The path to the import template file.

6. Run the script.

Result of imported tables