When it comes to database management, MS Access is a name that cannot be overlooked. It is an open-source platform and it has more to it than just being a Database Management System (DBMS). MS Access comes with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that might be appealing to many enthusiasts. It also acts as a software development tool and offers strong features in that regard. To add to its long list of features, the platform can act both as a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and a simple Database Management System. Moreover, MS Access has the Jet Database Engine as default but if you want, you can select from Server, Oracle, DB2, and SQL.
For this text, the ODBC will play an important role. Although it might seem to be the perfect platform that has everything, nothing is perfect. So, the question arises.
Should you migrate from MS Access to MySQL?
MySQL, on the other hand, is better than MS Access in some ways and falls short in others. Despite what it says, MS Access is not really an open-source platform and MySQL is. Additionally, MS Access only allows access to 255 concurrent users or less while MySQL is free of that limitation. If your database is getting bigger, you will need a higher file size but MS Access only allows you to use 2GB for free. This makes it harder for you to take your business to the next level.
In light of these reasons and many others, businesses tend to migrate their databases from MS Access to MySQL and you might be interested in doing that too. The most popular approaches to this migration are explored below.
How to migrate from MS Access to MySQL?
The first method to convert an MS Access database to MySQL is by using the built-in convert or export feature. This is where the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) comes into play. The migration happens only after you have installed the appropriate connector or ODBC driver in the system.
Here is the sequence of steps to implement this approach:
1. Open MS Access and select find the database to export
2. Right-click on the file and click on export
3. Select ODBC Database from the list
4. Click Ok on the next dialog box
5. From the next pop-up window, select MySQL from the “Machine Data Source “.
That’s it, the migration is complete. Although the migration is simple, this method often displays errors and the migration is incomplete. That’s where the next method of conversion excels.
Access to MySQL Converter
Access to MySQL tool is a very efficient software developed by Intelligent Converters which is a company that has earned quite a name for itself in this field. Whether it is any version of MS Access or MySQL, the tool can handle anything. It even supports certain variations like MariaDB and Percona.
The tool offers the following features for migration/conversion.
- User-friendly layout.
- Scheduled and Automated migration using commands.
- Migration at 2k records/second.
- Building relationships between tables and texts.
The capabilities listed above are just the top of iceberg. This tool offers a one-year exclusive subscription that has unlimited support. Once you purchase, you will automatically get updates of the tool for free.