Import or link Paradox tables

Note   You can link a table only in a Microsoft Access database, not a Microsoft Access project.

1. Open a database, or switch to the Database window for the open database.
   
   
2. To import tables, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import.

   To link tables, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Link Tables.

3. In the Import (or Link) dialog box, in the Files Of Type box, select Paradox (*.db).
   
   
4. Click the arrow to the right of the Look In box, select the drive and folder where the .db file is located, and then double-click its icon.

   Important   If you link to a file on a local area network, make sure that you use a universal naming convention (UNC) path, instead of relying on the drive letter of a mapped network drive in Windows Explorer. A drive letter can vary on a computer or may not always be defined, whereas a UNC path is a reliable and consistent way for Microsoft Access to locate the data source that contains the linked table.

5. If the Paradox table you select is encrypted, Microsoft Access prompts you for the password. Type the password for the Paradox table, and then click OK.
   
   
6. If you want to import or link another Paradox table, repeat steps 2 through 5. When you have finished importing or linking, click Close.

Notes

• To link (read/write) a Paradox 8.0 table, you must have the Borland Database Engine (BDE) version 4.x or later installed on your computer. If you do not have BDE 4.x or later installed, you can obtain it by installing Paradox 8.0 or Delphi. If you have an older version of the BDE that does not support Paradox 8 file format then you can upgrade your engine from the Borland World Wide Web site. Alternatively, if you do not have the BDE installed on your computer, you can still link (read-only) to Paradox 3.x, 4.x, and 5.0 tables.
  
  
• If you link a Paradox table that has a primary key, Microsoft Access needs the associated index (.px) file in order to open the linked table. If you link a Paradox table with a Memo field, then Microsoft Access needs the associated memo (.mb) file to open the linked table. If you delete or move these files, you won't be able to open the linked table.
  
  
• If you link a Paradox table that doesn't have a primary key, you won't be able to update data in the table using Microsoft Access. If you want the table to be updatable, define a primary key for the table in Paradox.
  
  
• OLE objects that are stored in a linked or imported Paradox table can't be opened from within Microsoft Access.