Microsoft Access Connection Strings
Microsoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft
Access, is a relational database management system from
Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database
Engine with a graphical user interface and software development
tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of
applications and is included in the Professional and higher
versions for Windows and also sold separately. There is no
version for MacOS or for Microsoft Office Mobile.
Access stores data in its own format based on the Access Jet
Database Engine. It can also import or link directly to data
stored in other Access databases, Excel, SharePoint lists, text,
XML, Outlook, HTML, dBase, Paradox, Lotus 1-2-3, or any
ODBC-compliant data container including Microsoft SQL Server,
Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL. Software developers and data
architects can use it to develop application software and
non-programmer "power users" can use it to build simple
applications. It supports some object-oriented techniques but
falls short of being a fully object-oriented development tool.
Microsoft Access saves information under the following file formats:
- Access Project .adp
- Access Blank Project Template .adn
- Access Database (2007) .accdb
- Access Database Runtime (2007) .accdr
- Access Database Template (2007) .accdt
- Access Database (2003 and earlier) .mdb
- Access Database, used for addins (2,95,97), previously used for workgroups (2). .mda
- Access Database Template (2003 and earlier) .mdt
- Access Workgroup, database for user-level security. .mdw
- Access (SQL Server) detached database (2000) .mdf
- Protected Access Database, with compiled VBA (2003 and earlier) .mde
- Protected Access Database, with compiled VBA (2007) .accde
- Windows Shortcut: Access Macro .mam
- Windows Shortcut: Access Query .maq
- Windows Shortcut: Access Report .mar
- Windows Shortcut: Access Table .mat
- Windows Shortcut: Access Form .maf
Variable Legend
| Variable Name | Substitute variable with: |
|---|---|
| Server | Replace with your server host address. |
| DBName | Replace with your database name |
| User | Replace with your database's username |
| Password | Replace with your database's password |
MS Access ODBC connection strings
Standard Security:
"Driver= {MicrosoftAccessDriver(*.mdb)};DBQ=C:\DBName.mdb;Uid=User;Pwd=Password;"
Workgroup:
"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; Dbq=C:\DBName.mdb; SystemDB=C:\DBName.mdw;"
Exclusive:
"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; DBQ=C:\DBName.mdb; Exclusive=1; Uid=User; Pwd=Password;"
MS Access OLE DB & OleDbConnection (.NET framework) connection strings
Open connection to Access database:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=C:\DBName.mdb; User Id=User; Password=Password"
Open connection to Access database using Workgroup (System database):
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=C:\DBName.mdb; Jet OLEDB:System Database=C:\DBName.mdw"
Open connection to password protected Access database:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=C:\DBName.mdb; Jet OLEDB:Database Password=Password"
Open connection to Access database located on a network share:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=\\Server\DBName.mdb"
Open connection to Access database located on a remote server:
"Provider=MS Remote; Remote Server=http://Server; Remote Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=C:\DBName.mdb"