How can you use an Access Database on OSX?

[3Cube]

Hey guys. I created a Microsoft Access database to keep track of all my eBay sales on my PC and was wondering if there are any freeware applications I can download for OSX that can run the access DB file. Since there isn't Microsoft Access for Mac.

Thanks to anyone who helps,

Shaun

[TruckWEB]

I guess VirtualPC will be your friend for that... I don't know any software for Mac that can "understand' Access database.

MS Access rely too much VBA (Visual Basic for Application) to make it easy to port on Mac. Even MS is not doing it.

[Slacker]

Does OpenOffice 2 open access files? I know that there is a database component on the PC version, but I'm not familiar with if it will open an access file, or if the mac version comes with the database component.

[NeoTrunks]

I took a look at OpenOffice.org 2.0.1 and it does say that it natively supports MS Access documents, but I haven't tested it out myself, yet. If that doesn't work too well, you could try your luck at converting the Access database to MySQL.

[Dav-id]

yea you might be best converting it to something else or making a web application and putting it on a free windows webserver

[3Cube]

Yeah I think I might just end up doing a web application for it. Wish there was Access for Mac but oh well.

[Shadrack]

Looks like FileMaker offers some "migration" capabilities.

You should be able to link to the tables or pull them from the file into another format using an ODBC driver. My google-foo fails me atm and I can't find a reasonable one. There should be one out there though. With whatever conversion, whatever forms and reports you have written in Access will most likely not make any conversion process (just the data). Too much of it relies on Windows API to work elsewhere.

I recommend setting up MySQL Server on your Mac and then use ODBC and some intermediary like Microsoft Access to shuffle the data to the MySQL Server. Once there, you can link the tables to your Microsoft Access file from the Database Server, and you can use any tools available for interfacing with MySQL Server (or any ODBC compatible database). MySQL Administrator and MySQL Query Browser to handle the setup of your database server. What do you know, there is even a Migration Toolkit available for converting a Microsoft Access database to a MySQL Server database.

If you are at all interested in learning Databases further, I think MySQL is a good tool to know how to use and leverage. Cross-Platform, easy to backup, and packed full of features.

[3Cube]

Hey Shadrack. Thanks for all the information. I think I will set up a MySQL Server on my Mac and transfer the data from Access to it.