Querying Access database from Analytica 64

Migrating Access Database to SQL Server Express 2008

Microsoft Access databases cannot be queried from Analytica 64-Bit as Microsoft has decided to deprecate its JET database engine -- which includes the Access (*.mdb), Excel (*.xls) and Text file drivers, and have refused to provide 64-bit drivers for these (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Jet_Database_Engine#Future).

One way to get around this issue is to migrate Microsoft Access databases to Microsoft SQL Server Express. Migrated SQL Server databases can then be queried from Analytica 64 and, by selecting the right options while migrating, can still be accessed from Microsoft Access even after the migration.

This page outlines the steps to migrate an existing Access database to SQL Server.

Step 1. Installing the SQL Server Express 2008

Microsoft SQL Server Express

Microsoft SQL Server Express 2008 is a free version of Microsoft's SQL Server. SQL Server Express does have a few limitations:

• Maximum database size of 4GB.
  
• Memory utilization limited to 1GB.
  
• CPU utilization limited to 1 CPU.
  

Please go here fore more information about SQL Server Express: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Server_Express.

Installation

The web-installer for SQL Server Express can be downloaded heree: http://www.microsoft.com/web/downloads/platform.aspx

Here is a link to a video that goes through the installation of SQL Server 2008 Express: http://www.msdev.com/Directory/Description.aspx?eventId=1209

Pointer: Please check Management Studio Express while installing the SQL Server Express 2008. Management Studio Express lets you easily access, configure and manage SQL Server Express and SQL Server Databases. Please visit the following link to learn more about SQL Server Management Studio on MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174173.aspx.

Step 2. Installing the SSMA(SQL Server Migration Assistant) for Microsoft Access Databases

Link to download the SSMA installer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=133b59c2-c89c-4641-bebb-6d04476ec1ba&DisplayLang=en

Video: Overview and Installation
Link: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/solutions/migration/access/SSMA01.wvx

Step 3. Migrating Access database to SQL Server Express 2008

The linked video explains you step by how to migrate an Access 2003 database to SQL Server.

Video: Migrating Process and Settings
Link: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/solutions/migration/access/SSMA02.wvx

Pointers: Remember to check Link Access to have the option of accessing your database from Microsoft Access even after the migration.

More resources on SSMA tool.
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/migration-access-learning.aspx