Convert a database to the .accdb file format

By default, Access 2010 and Access 2007 create databases in the .accdb file format, which is generally referred to as the Access 2007 file format. This format supports newer features such as multivalued fields, data macros, and publishing to Access Services. You can convert databases that were created in Microsoft Office Access 2003, Access 2002, Access 2000, or Access 97 to the .accdb file format. Keep in mind, however, that a database in the .accdb file format cannot be opened or linked to by using versions of Access earlier than Access 2007. In addition, the .accdb format does not support replication or user-level security. If you need to share your database with people who use Access 2003 or earlier, or if you need to use replication or user-level security, you must use the .mdb file format.

Note: 

Even though they share the same file format, some new features of Access 2010 cannot be used in Access 2007. For more information, see the section Use Access 2007 to open a database that was created or modified in Access 2010.

In this article

Convert an Access 2000 or Access 2002 - 2003 database to the .accdb format

Convert an Access 97 database to the .accdb format

Use Access 2007 to open a database that was created or modified in Access 2010

Convert an Access 2000 or Access 2002 - 2003 database to the .accdb format

To convert an Access 2000 or Access 2002 - 2003 database (.mdb) to the .accdb file format, you must first open the database by using Access 2007 or Access 2010, and then save it in the .accdb file format.

1. On the File tab, click Open.

2. In the Open dialog box, select and open the Access 2000 or Access 2002 - 2003 database (.mdb) that you want to convert.

   Note:  If the Database Enhancement dialog box appears, the database is using a file format that is earlier than Access 2000. To continue, see the section Convert an Access 97 database to the .accdb format.

3. On the File tab, click Save & Publish, and then, under Database File Types click Access Database (*.accdb).

4. Click Save As.

   If any database objects are open when you click Save As, Access prompts you to close them prior to creating the copy. Click Yes to make Access close the objects, or click No to cancel the entire process. If needed, Access will also prompt you to save any changes.

5. In the Save As dialog box, type a file name in the File name box, and then click Save.

   Access creates the copy of the database, and then opens the copy. Access automatically closes the original database.

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Convert an Access 97 database to the .accdb format

Use the following procedure to convert an Access 97 database (.mdb) to the new file format (.accdb).

1. In Access 2010, on the File tab, click Open.

2. In the Open dialog box, select and open the Access 97 (.mdb) database that you want to convert.

3. In the Database Enhancement dialog box, click Yes.
   
   Access creates a copy of the database in the .accdb file format and automatically closes the original database.

Note: You cannot use the resulting .accdb file in versions of Access earlier than Access 2007.

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Use Access 2007 to open a database that was created or modified in Access 2010

Because Access 2010 and Access 2007 use the same file format, you can use Access 2007 to open a database that was created in Access 2010 without first using the Save As command. However, Access 2010 includes some new features that require Access 2010 to run. Depending on the feature, one of the following behaviors might occur when you try to use the database in Access 2007:

• You cannot modify the object that uses the new feature.

• You cannot open the object that uses the new feature.

• You cannot open the database in Access 2007 at all.

For a complete listing of the Access 2010 features that can cause compatibility problems with Access 2007, see the article Backward Compatibility between Access 2010 and Access 2007.

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