Microsoft Access - Upgrade mdb File Format To accdb

[@willardchi2571]

I have a database that I started to build in Access 2.0. Along the way, I went from 2.0 to 2000 and finally to 2003. For an amateur user, this database is complex with everything written in VBA (back then, I think it was called "Access Basic"--very similar to VBA, I was told). I documented every change I made as best I could, which resulted in an MS Word document of about 1000 pages (I also made comments within the code along the way to explain almost every line of code). I don't remember what conversions I did back then. I seem to remember there was some big VBA code changes when going to one of those versions, which I may have avoided by somehow enabling that newer version of Access to run the older code (perhaps by setting a certain library reference). Now I want to convert this old database from mdb to accdb. I have two versions of MS Office Professional handy: one is MS Office Professional 2007 and the other is 2016. Neither is 2010. In light of the database's complexity, should I first convert it using Access 2007 and then use it in 2016? Or should I procure a copy (no big deal) of Access 2010 and use that to do the conversion so I can use it in 2016? Or should I skip the intermediate step of using Access 2007 or 2010 to convert the database by simply using Access 2016 to do the conversion?

[@DanielPineault]

If you have a 2003 mdb, I would just jump straight to 2016. (Always, work with a copy!, but I get the feeling I don't need to tell you that.)

[@willardchi2571]

@@DanielPineault - I was hoping you'd say go straight to 2016. Thank you and thanks for the video. I wish there were videos like yours when I first started using Access in the 1990s. I haven't done any real coding for about twenty years, so now I'm reacquainting myself with it again and having fun doing it. And, yes, I have copies and copies of copies.

[@ianmeisner]

I have an .mdb from 2003 that I'm unable to upgrade with the most recent version of Access O365. When I try to save as an .accdb I receive a "Could not use "filepath to .mdb"; file already in use. Any suggestions?

[@DanielPineault]

I've been seeing that error myself when performing compact and repair on DBs. Done new bug IMHO. I'd perform an office repair. When performing the upgrade, you are using the shift bypass to get into the database initially?

[@Renee-pz1yy]

I have my data backed up to a thumb drive. My computer with Access 97 died. How can I open this thumb drive and not loose my data? Can I purchase Access 97 and download it on my new PC?

[@DanielPineault]

It may be possible to purchase Access '97 from does like Amazon, eBay, ... but Microsoft only sells their most recent version. Do you still have your '97 media, you could simply reinstall it on your new machine or on a Virtual Machine. Personally, I'd recommend upgrading. With with a copy of your file until you are sure everything is okay.

[@Renee-pz1yy]

@@DanielPineault I do not have the original Access 97. The computer it was on also died. All I literally have are “back-up thumb drives” with each years data stored. Can I buy Access 2007 or 2010 and load on my new laptop? What I then be able to open the information stored on the thumb drives using the new Access program?

[@s11089744]

​@@DanielPineaultI need your help immediately on that same issue

[@DanielPineault]

97 is old and you will most probably need to use an intermediary version 2000, 2003 (I believe even up to 2010) just to be able to open it. As long as you have a copy of the mdb, you should be able to recover the data.

[@mahmoudtalaat163]

I still don't get it actually, how did you convert ?

[@DanielPineault]

I'm not sure what aspect of the video you didn't understand. Did you follow along and save your file as an accdb? If so, you've performed the upgrade.

[@mahmoudtalaat163]

@@DanielPineault I have a .mdb file and it is of an old version and I tried all ways like python code and web tools to convert and it didnt work .. here in your video I didnt see how did you convert .. what converter did you use ? If I opened the file with microsoft access it wont open .. even the save as is hopeless, so if you can tell what tool did you use to convert, then your help is appriciated

[@DanielPineault]

It's a Microsoft Access database (mdb file), so I used Access to convert the file. I typically use Access 2010 as it can open most older MDBs and then save them as an ACCDB. Then I can use 2013->MS365 to work with the ACCDB. I cover both using an intermediary version of Access to first upgrade old mdbs to more recent mdb file format (beginning of the video), as well as upgrading the newer mdb file format to accdb using the File->Save As approach (covered around the 7:30 mark).

[@georgepazuniak2923]

The video is useless if one does not have Access 2003 or Access 2010. If you do, you do not need the video because MS had published work-around.

[@DanielPineault]

Not sure I follow. Obviously, you need access 2007 or later to perform a format upgrade to accdb. There's no way around that aspect. Furthermore, depending on the mdb format, yes, you may also need an intermediary version, say 2000 or 2003, to first upgrade the mdb to a version that can be read by 2007+. Workaround, not sure what you are referring to? Please share what you are referring to so everyone can benefit. I'm always open to learning new solutions. "Useless"? It is a step by step explanation of how to perform the upgrade and has helped many people. Maybe it doesn't help you, but it has and does help others.