converting MS-ACCESS database files from .mdb to mac osx please?

**megimp** · May 15th, 2005, 05:53 PM

hello

How do I open, read, and convert .mdb files to an OSX readable format?

Most of my friends with disabilities are still using Win based PC's.

THANK YOU

**mdnky** · May 16th, 2005, 12:21 AM

One way to do it is to open the file on a Win machine with Access installed, then export the tables to 'CSV' or 'SQL dump' files. Take those exported files and import them into your DB (MySQL is a good choice).

As far as a 'helper app' to convert them, there isn't one that I'm aware of that'll run under OS X. The last time I searched for one was a year ago or so, but nothing came up then and I seriously doubt there was a strong demand for such a thing. Access is a bit weird in how it does things, which would probably be a nightmare to have to convert.

**gphillipk** · May 16th, 2005, 02:19 AM

If you have MS Office for Mac, couldn't you use Excel to read the data out of the Access db? Unless Excel for Mac is radically different, you ought to be able to design queries in Excel to extract data and save data back into the Access db, without having to convert. But if you need more advanced (relational-db) functionality, I s'pose you ought to convert.

**elander** · May 16th, 2005, 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by gphillipk

If you have MS Office for Mac, couldn't you use Excel to read the data out of the Access db? Unless Excel for Mac is radically different, you ought to be able to design queries in Excel to extract data and save data back into the Access db, without having to convert. But if you need more advanced (relational-db) functionality, I s'pose you ought to convert.

Excel for Mac isn't radically different, but everything around it is. To run a query from Excel to an Access database, you need something to answer to the query. In this case that would be Access (via ODBC) or some built-in support for Access databases in the operating system (as you get in Windows). Since you don't have either on the Mac, there isn't anything around to respond to the queries.

I've been searching for something similar for years, but I always end up biting the bullet. Just find some poor sod with Windows and Access, and ask him or her to convert your database to something you can use (CSV or SQL dump as suggested earlier).

**gphillipk** · May 16th, 2005, 07:26 AM

Thanks for the correction elander. This isn't related to the orig. question, but I'd like to know what would happen if the Access db was located on a computer with Windows and the query was executed from the Mac.

**elander** · May 16th, 2005, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by gphillipk

Thanks for the correction elander. This isn't related to the orig. question, but I'd like to know what would happen if the Access db was located on a computer with Windows and the query was executed from the Mac.

Three caveats that I'm aware of:

1. Setting up ODBC on the Mac is generally a pain in the you-know-what. Making it actually work is even worse.

2. If Microsoft Query is to work, ODBC has to work on the Mac, even when the server is somewhere else. Even when ODBC is set up properly and working on the Mac, Microsoft Query might not.

3. Access isn't based on ODBC, but on Jet, and as far as I am aware, there is no Jet engine for Mac OS X.

If you have Access up and running in Windows, and want to move your data to a Mac, there are two ways that I know of that would work:

1. Dump the data from Access into a file (e.g. CSV or SQL dump), clean it up and import it in your application on the Mac (e.g. Excel or MySQL respectively).

2. Set up Access to connect to MySQL on the Mac, and transfer the database that way. It's not that difficult. Have a look at this page:
http://www.bullzip.com/products/msa2mys/info.php

[INCESSANT RANT] In conclusion: I hate Access. Really. It's very convenient to use as a stand alone database on your own desktop, much like FileMaker. And just like FileMaker, it's a plague as soon as you want to share the database with others. Mind you, FileMaker used to be at least decent, with built-in web server and all, before they moved all innovating from R&D to the marketing department. MySQL, PostgreSQL or anything else that runs on multiple platforms, and can be accessed over the network should be mandatory these days.[/INCESSANT RANT]

**mkwan** · May 16th, 2005, 09:56 PM

one time I was able to setup ODBC connection between PostgreSQL and Microsoft Excel(Query). It was a pain in the @$$, but I got it working. Now, I have to do it all over again since I upgraded to Tiger

**elander** · May 17th, 2005, 02:51 AM

If you get that Microsoft Query <-> PostgreSQL thing working again, please post a HOW TO on this forum. I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate it!

If you can, try to make it a "combo HOW TO", with instrucions on how to get it working with MySQL too. That would probably be even more appreciated. If you don't have the time, just drop a few lines about how you did the pgsql thing, and I'll try to take it from there and do a MySQL version.