Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access is a tool to automate migration from Microsoft Access database(s) to SQL Server or SQL Azure. It lets you quickly convert Access database objects to SQL Server or SQL Azure objects, upload the resulting objects into SQL Server or SQL Azure, and migrate data from Access to SQL Server or SQL Azure. If it is necessary, you can also link Access tables to SQL Server or SQL Azure tables so that you can continue to use your existing Access front-end applications with SQL Server or SQL Azure.
After SSMA is installed and licensed, you can use SSMA to migrate Access databases to SQL Server or SQL Azure. It helps to become familiar with the SSMA user interface before you start.
To start a migration, create a new project, and then add Access databases to Access Metadata Explorer. You can then right-click objects in Access Metadata Explorer to do tasks such as export an inventory of Access database objects to SQL Server or SQL Azure, create reports that assess conversions to SQL Server or SQL Azure, and convert Access schemas to SQL Server or SQL Azure schemas. You can also do these tasks through the toolbars and menus.
Command Line Usage: SSMAforAccessConsole.exe
-s|script scriptfile
(required, XML file containing SSMA commands to be executed)
[-v|variable variablevaluefile]
(XML file containing values of parameter variables defined in the scriptfile)
[-c|serverconnection serverconnectionfile]
(XML file containing connection information for servers involved in the migration project)
[-l|log logfile]
(log file for logging SSMA activities)
[-e|projectenvironment projectenvironmentfolder]
(custom project environment settings folder)
[-x|xmloutput [xmloutputfile]]
(console output in XML format, if not specified output by default is in ‘plain text’ format)
[-p|-securePassword add|remove|list|import|export]
(password management, must be the only option in command line, type -p -? for more options)
[-?](show syntax summary)
Requirements:
1. Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 or a later version.
2. The Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 or a later version. The .NET Framework version 2.0 is available on the SQL Server product media. You can also obtain it from the .NET Framework Developer Center Web site.
3. The ability to access the computer that hosts the target instance of SQL Server.
4. DAO provider version 12.0 or 14.0. You can install DAO provider from Microsoft Office 2010/2007 product or download it from Microsoft web site.
5. Microsoft SQL Server Native Client (SNAC) version 10.5 and above for migrating to SQL Azure. You can install SNAC from Microsoft SQL Server web site as part of SQL Server Feature Pack.
The license of this software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this database management software.
Introduction
Access to MSSQL is a small program that will convert Microsoft Access Databases to MSSQL.
This product is very similar to Access to MySQL. Until the description of this product is done you can read about the Access to MySQL. The documentation will apply to this product as well. Just replace any occurance of MySQL with MSSQL.
DBConvert & DBSync for Access and MSSQL is cross-database migration software for converting and synchronizing data between Microsoft Access (.MDB or .ACCDB) and SQL Server on-premises or in a cloud.
MS Access is a popular desktop database widely used in organizations. In time, most Access databases grow in size and complexity. When Access databases are becoming unstable and slow due to large amounts of data, it’s time to consider migrating from Access to SQL Server.
MS Access vs SQL Server
Microsoft Access | SQL Server |
---|---|
Microsoft advertises that MS Access has a size limit of 2 GB, but in fact, you will notice a performance and stability degradation above about 300 Mb. | The SQL Server database usually performs much better than an Access database, especially with a large, terabyte-sized database. |
Microsoft says the Access database cannot support more than 255 concurrent users. Actually, MS Access applications are NOT designed to support about 20 or more concurrent users on a LAN. | By default, SQL Server allows a maximum of 32767 concurrent connections, the maximum number of users who can simultaneously log in to the SQL server instance. SQL Server processes queries much faster and efficiently by processing queries in parallel, using multiple native threads within a single process to handle user requests. |
MS Access applications are NOT designed to be exposed to the Internet. There are some workarounds, such as Remote Desktop Connection, but these systems are always expensive to build and maintain. In most cases, it also shows poor performance. | SQL Server can be easily configured for accessing over the Internet. Typically, the application interface connects to SQL Server databases over the Internet. Thus, employees, partners, and customers can exchange information and update it in real-time, wherever there is Internet access. |
Overgrown Access databases can often crash and become corrupted. The built-in limitations of the MS Access applications itself, or sometimes the application’s design quality, restrict its 24/7 operation. | Let’s say an operating system crash or power outage occurs. In this case, SQL Server can automatically restore the database to a consistent state in minutes and without the database administrator’s intervention. |
Easily move MS Access databases to directly to a Microsoft SQL server or convert it to a T-SQL script file with the help of this approachable application
Access to MS SQL
Review by Anca Roman on June 24, 2017
If you think that working with Microsoft SQL servers meets your expectations more than handling MS Access does, a database converter could come in handy.
Access to MS SQL is a software utility that could prove useful in such a context since it promises superior performance while letting you customize various parameters of the conversion process.
First things first, users should know that installing the application is nothing to worry about, with the entire operation being straightforward. In fact, the same can be said about the very GUI the program features, with a wizard-like structure making all the tasks intuitive.
Converts MS Access databases to MS SQL format or a T-SQL script file
It is important to point out that the program offers two main options as far as database conversions are concerned. To be more specific, it can migrate your Microsoft Access databases not only directly to a Microsoft SQL server but also to a T-SQL script file.
If you go for the former, the first step you need to take is connect to the MS SQL server using either your Windows credentials or the server login details. Once you complete this task, you need to look into several user-level security settings, but if your database is not protected, you can simply skip all altogether.
Lets you bundle all conversion settings in a profile
Next, the source and destination database names must be specified. In the same screen, you can check other options such as convert table definitions only and skip converting indexes. Last but not least, you need to know that selecting the Microsoft Access table you intend to convert should be a hassle-free operation. Apart from that, filtering data using SELECT-queries is possible.
As for how the program helps you improve your productivity, it must be said that it allows you to create profiles packing all the conversion settings so that you can subsequently launch them in no time. Besides, command line support is offered so that you can automate, schedule, as well as script the conversion tasks.
Intuitive database conversion program
All in all, Access to MS SQL is a powerful database conversion tool that boasts support for all Microsoft Access and SQL Server versions. The program comes with a reliable set of features users can resort to in order to successfully prepare their MS Access databases for migration, all in an intuitive GUI that takes little time to get accustomed to.
Excel is a good analytical tool but it is not designed as a database platform. It has certain database functions but if we want to store data properly, we often look for other database platform. Microsoft Access is the number 1 choice when an Excel user look for a relational database management system. First, Microsoft Access is part of Microsoft Office family; second, Excel and Access are very well integrated together; last, its cost is quite reasonable.
Apart from Access, Microsoft also has developed another relational database management system, Microsoft SQL Server. It used to be a clear cut that Microsoft Access is designed for desktop use and Microsoft SQL Server is target for server applications. However, as desktop is getting more powerful and SQL Server has introduced many different editions, the line between Access and SQL Server has become blurred. I would like to use this opportunity to compare these two products and how they differ from each other.
Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for Access is a tool for migrating databases from Microsoft Access to SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2. SSMA 2008 for Access also supports migrating to SQL Azure.
SSMA for Access converts Access database objects to SQL Server database objects, loads those objects into SQL Server, and then migrates data from Access to SQL Server. You can also link Access tables to SQL Server tables so that you can continue to use your existing Access front-end applications with SQL Server or SQL Azure.