Import data to SQL Server from Access 1.1 1

[avanderlaan]

I'm sorry if this is not the appropriate forum. If so, please redirect me.

I have been given custody of several MDB files. They were created with Access 1.1 which is not present anywhere on our corporate network. The original UI application front-end was written in VB3 and there is no source code. The original "developer" is no longer with the company.

Is there a way I can simply read this data out of the MDB files? We have an ISO requirement for retaining maintenance records on these machine tools.

I cannot use Office 2003 tools to open or convert the database, and I have tried to build a connection string to connect to the database (or the part that I have) and have been unsuccessful.

Thanx.

 

[sfreeman]

Why not just purchase a version of Access that will read 1.1?

May find it on eBay cheap....

Sam_F
"90% of the problem is asking the right question.

 

[avanderlaan]

This is a CORPORATE network. That version cannot be installed.

 

[cghoga]

You mentioned you could not get to the data via Office 2003 tools. Have you tried Excel dQuery (Open Excel, Go to Data - Import External Data - Import Data or New Database Query) and set Files of Type: to Access Databases or All Data Sources?

Hope this helps.

 

[sfreeman]

I do not understand why you cannot simply install Access 1.0 on your work station, even on a corp LAN, and link to the existing mdb file and dump your data into your format of choice.

If you can't/won't do that, then there are numerous data 'converters' available, particlarly for MySQL.

Convert the data into MySQL, then put it back into the current version of Access.

Link for more info:

http://www.vadino.com/windows/business/database/mysql-migration-toolkit.html

Sam_F
"90% of the problem is asking the right question.

 

[avanderlaan]

cghoga,

Your suggestion worked great! Have a star on me. I had tried importing directly into SQL Server using DTS packages, but corrupt data and non-portable data types prevented that. Thank you.

Sam_F, our corporate network will not allow any Office apps earlier that Office 2000 on any workstation. IT spends much of it's workday, apparently, ferretting out these bandit apps and disconnecting them from the network.