In Microsoft Access, you can import, export, or link data from a number of different database, spreadsheet, and text file formats. To do this, Access uses either a built-in driver or an ODBC driver. This topic provides reference information about:
Access contains built-in drivers that enable you to import, export, or link the following types of data: Other Microsoft Access databases, Microsoft Access projects, Paradox, dBASE, Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, fixed-width text files, delimited text files, and HTML.
More information about data sources you can import or link to.
More information about data formats you can export.
These built-in drivers are available when you use the Export command on the File menu, and the Import and Link Tables commands on the Get External Data submenu on the File menu. If a built-in driver for a type of data has been installed, that type will be available in the Save As Type box in the Export Object 'Object Name' To dialog box, or in the Files Of Type box in the Import or Link dialog boxes. All built-in drivers are installed automatically when you install Access.
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You can use ODBC drivers to connect to Microsoft SQL Server databases, Microsoft FoxPro databases, and data from other programs that provide 32-bit drivers in compliance with ODBC Level 1 to access their data files. Microsoft Access automatically installs the Microsoft SQL Server ODBC driver (Sqlsrv32.dll), the FoxPro ODBC driver (vfpodbc.dll), the Oracle ODBC driver (msorcl32.dll), and some ODBC support files (Help files and the Control Panel ODBC (32bit) icon). The ODBC Databases option is available in the Save As Type box in the Export Object 'Object Name' To dialog box and in the Files Of Type box on the Import or Link dialog boxes. Also, the ODBC (32bit) icon is available in Control Panel.
Third-party vendors may supply additional ODBC drivers and documentation that support other data formats. For more information about whether an ODBC driver is available for a particular type of data, contact the vendor of the program that produces that type of data. Access requires 32-bit ODBC drivers that are in compliance with ODBC Level 1.
Other Microsoft products and products from other vendors may also contain ODBC drivers, including drivers for the same applications listed in the section above on built-in drivers. These ODBC drivers may be installed on your computer, but Microsoft recommends you use a corresponding built-in driver when available. If you want to know whether these ODBC drivers have been tested and verified for use with Access, contact the driver vendor.
You can find more information about ODBC driver support and availability in the Microsoft Access Knowledge Base.
More information about accessing Microsoft technical resources.
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