Description of supported data sources for importing, exporting, and linking in an Access 2000 database (180105)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q180105
This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

For a Microsoft Access 2002 version of this article, see 283294.
For a Microsoft Access 2003 version of this article, see 826507.

SUMMARY

Microsoft Access 2000 can import or link data from other Microsoft Access databases (version 2.0, 7.0/95, 8.0/97 and 9.0/2000), as well as data from other programs and file formats, such as Microsoft Excel, dBASE, or Paradox. You can also import or link (read-only) HTML tables and lists that reside on your local computer, network server, or Internet server.

Microsoft Access 2000 can also export tables to these file formats, as well as to Rich Text format and dynamic HTML file formats.

MORE INFORMATION

Access 2000 supports the following file formats.

File typeExtensionImportLinkExport
Microsoft Access 1.x.mdbNoNoNo
Microsoft Access 2.0.mdbYesYesYes
Microsoft Access 7.0.mdbYesYesYes
Microsoft Access 97.mdbYesYesYes
Microsoft Access 2000.mdbYesYesYes
Text (Delimited).txtYesYesYes
Text (Fixed Width).txtYesYesYes
Microsoft Excel 3.0.xlsYesYesYes
Microsoft Excel 4.0.xlsYesYesYes
Microsoft Excel 4.0.xlwNoNoNo
Microsoft Excel 5.0-7.0.xlsYesYesYes
Microsoft Excel 97.xlsYesYesYes
Microsoft Excel 2000.xlsYesYesYes
Lotus 1-2-3.wk1YesYes(1)Yes
Lotus 1-2-3 3.0.wk3YesYes(1)Yes
dBASE III.dbfYesYes(2)Yes
dBASE IV.dbfYesYes(2)Yes
dBASE V.dbfYesYes(2)Yes
Paradox 3.0.dbYesYes(2)Yes
Paradox 4.0.dbYesYes(2)Yes
Paradox 5.0.dbYesYes(2)Yes
Exchange/Outlook.pstYesYesNo
HTML.html, .htmYesYesYes
Microsoft Internet Database Connector.idc/.htxNoNoYes
Microsoft Active Server Pages.aspNoNoYes
Rich Text Format.rtfNoNoYes
ODBC Datasources(3)N/AYesYesYes

Notes:

  1. Lotus 1-2-3 files can be linked, but they will be read-only.
  2. Linked dBASE and Paradox tables will be read-only unless you have the Borland Database Engine (BDE) installed on you computer. For more information, see the articles described in the "References" section later in this article.

    NOTE: If you install the latest Microsoft Jet 4.O service pack, you do not need the BDE to have write access to Paradox and dBASE files. The latest service pack resolves this limitation. For information about how to obtain Microsoft Jet 4.O Service Pack 5, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    239114 How to obtain the latest service pack for the Microsoft Jet 4.0 Database Engine

  3. Working with an ODBC data source requires that you have the correct and up-to-date ODBC drivers for the data source that you are using. For example, Access 2000 no longer provides an ISAM driver for Microsoft FoxPro files (.DBC). However, you can use the ODBC drivers that ship with Access to connect to FoxPro files. See the "References" section later in this article.
  4. When linking text files, the existing data cannot be edited. Records can be added to the linked text file, but once the record has been committed, existing records cannot be updated.
The list above differs slightly from the information that you find in the Access 2000 Help file. The information in the Help file is not accurate; the list above provides the correct information.

The following Help topics have inaccurate information:
  • Data sources Microsoft Access can import or link
  • Data formats Microsoft access can export
  • Import or link Paradox tables
  • Import or link dBase files
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

For additional information about importing, exporting, and linking to Paradox tables, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

230126 You cannot update a Paradox database in Access 2000 and other Jet applications

For additional information about importing, exporting, and linking to dBase files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

230125 How to use dBASE data with Access 2000 and Jet

For additional information about importing, exporting, and linking to FoxPro files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

225861 No options are available to import, link, or export to the FoxPro file type in Access 2000

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/28/2004
Keywords:kbExport kbImport kb3rdparty kbinfo KB180105 kbAudDeveloper
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