Export a database object to another Access database
Access provides a number of ways to copy an object such as a table or form from one database to another. Copying and pasting an object is easiest, but exporting an object offers you more options. For example, you can export the table definition and the data in the table, or export just the table definition (a blank copy of the table). You can also save the details of the operation as an export specification for future use.
Overview
You can export a table, query, form, report, macro, or module from one Access database to another. When you export an object, Access creates a copy of the object in the destination database.
You export database objects when you need to do any of the following tasks:
- Copy the structure of a table to another database as a shortcut to creating a new table.
- Copy the design and layout of a form or report to another database as a quick way to create a new form or report.
- Copy the latest version of a table or form to another database at regular intervals. To do this, you can create an export specification the first time you export the object, and then use the specification to repeat the operation later.
Note that exporting an object to another database differs very little from opening a second database and then importing the object from the first. The two main differences between importing and exporting objects between Access databases are:
- You can import multiple objects in a single operation, but you cannot export multiple objects in a single operation. If you want to export multiple objects to another database, it is easier to open the destination database and then perform an import operation from within that database.
- In addition to database objects, you can import relationships between tables, plus any import and export specifications, and menu bars and toolbars. You can also import a query as a table. Exporting does not offer you these options.
Looking for information about importing objects into an Access database? See Import database objects into the current Access database.
Prepare for the export
- Open the source database, if it is not already open. The file format can be either MDB or ACCDB. If the file is in MDE or ACCDE format, the source object must be a table, a query, or a macro. You cannot export forms, reports and modules from an MDE or ACCDE file.
Note: If the database is read-only, or you don't have permissions to make changes to the database, you can complete the export operation, but cannot save the export specification.
| Element | Description |
| Single object per operation | You can export only one object at a time. To export multiple objects, repeat the export operation for each object, or do an import operation from within the destination database. |
| New table | Each export operation creates a new object in the destination database. If an object with the same name already exists, you can choose to overwrite the existing object or specify a different name for the new object. |
Note: An export operation cannot add records to an existing table. To add records, consider creating an append query. For more information, see the article Add records to a table by using an append query.
- If you cannot open the database, another user may have the database open in exclusive mode. You typically need to find that user and request that they close and reopen the database in normal (multi-user) mode.
- If the database is password-protected, you will be asked to enter the password each time you run the Export Wizard or the saved specification.
- If you want to export the object to a new database, you must create a blank database (that does not contain any tables, forms, or reports) before starting the export operation.
Export a database object to another Access database
- On the External Data tab, in the Export group, click Access.
Tip: You can also start the export process by right-clicking the object in the Navigation Pane and then clicking Export > Access.
What else should I know?
- For information on how to save the details of your export into a specification that you can reuse later, see the article Save the details of an import or export operation as a specification.
- For information on how to run saved export specifications, see the article Run a saved import or export operation.
- For information on how to schedule specifications to run at specific times, see the article Schedule an import or export operation.
- For information on how to change a specification name, delete specifications, or update the names of source files in specifications, see the article Manage Data Tasks.
