I have 3 copies of the same access 2003 database. Each user had a copy of
the same database on their desktop. I was trying to figure out how to merge
the databases into one access 2003 database. Any help would be appreciated.
This project can range from fairly easy to nightmarishly difficult (i.e.
reentering all the data by hand being easier), depending on the structure of
the database.
On the easy end, you may be able to create a new fourth database with all the
same tables, forms, reports, etc., just with the tables empty. Then you can
use File... Get External Data... Link to link to each of the three databases
in turn, and run Append queries to migrate the data from those tables into the
tables in the new database.
On the difficult end, you may have Autonumber primary keys in the three
databases... with the same autonumber value referring to three different sets
of data... and related to a dozen other tables with the autonumber value in
foreign key fields... and you have duplicate data in the different databases,
along with almost-but-not-quite duplicate data that should be treated as
duplicate, and almost-but-not-quite duplicate data that must be treated as
distinct.
I spent a very rough three weeks on a project of the latter type some years
back. Now I'll double my billing rate if asked to take on such a project
again.
