You have years of records in an Access .mdb file, and the person who needs the numbers only works in Excel. Retyping or exporting table by table is slow. MDB to XLS, sold by Birdie Software as Access to Excel Converter, is built to turn an Access database into an Excel .xls file in a few steps.
Quick facts
- Converts: Microsoft Access .mdb to Excel .xls
- Platform: Windows
- Licenses: non-commercial, commercial and command-line versions
Key features
Convert an Access file in three steps
You install the program, browse to the .mdb file and run the conversion. The program scans the database and writes the result to Excel format.
Move tables, queries and more in one pass
The vendor says the converter handles tables, reports, queries and forms from the Access file, so you don't need to export each object separately.
A command-line license for automation
A command-line version is offered alongside the regular program, which suits repeated conversions.
Who it's for
You'll get the most from it if you hold data in older Access databases and need to hand it to colleagues or clients who use Excel, and you want a guided tool rather than a manual export.
Pros and cons
- Pro: a simple three-step workflow.
- Pro: several license types, including a command-line one.
- Con: the output is the older .xls format.
- Con: it's a paid tool for commercial use, which may put off anyone looking for a free option.
FAQs
What does it convert?
Microsoft Access .mdb databases into Excel .xls files.
Can I try it first?
The vendor promotes a free download so you can check the result before you buy.
Is there a version for scripting?
Yes, a command-line license version is available.