HowTo: Connect to Microsoft Access 2007 (ACCDB) files in ArcGIS

Article ID:	32976
Software:	ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcView 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1
Platforms:	Windows 2000, XP, 2003Server

Summary

Office 2007 introduced a new Microsoft Access database format, ACCDB. ACCDB is the new default format in Access 2007, when saving or creating a database.

The proper way of connecting to Microsoft Access databases, either the MDB or ACCDB formats, is through an OLEDB connection. Many users connect directly to MDB files through the Add Data dialog box in Arcmap. In most cases, this works fine, but is not the recommended workflow. With the new Microsoft Access format, accessing ACCDB files directly through the Add Data dialog box is not possible.

Procedure

Instructions provided describe how to use ACCDB files in ArcGIS.

If Microsoft Office 2007 is installed on the same machine as ArcGIS, skip to step 2. If attempting to connect to an ACCDB file on a machine that does not have Microsoft Office 2007, download the AccessDatabaseEngine.exe from 2007 Office System Driver: Data Connectivity Components.
In ArcCatalog, navigate to the Database Connections folder in the catalog tree.
Click Add OLEDB Connection.-show me-
In the Data Link Properties dialog box, select the Microsoft Office 12.0 Access Database Engine OLE DB Provider.-show me-

The Microsoft Office 12.0 Access Database Engine Provider was installed with either Office 2007 or the AccessDatabaseEngine.exe from step 1, above.
Click Next to the open the Connection Tab.
For step 1 > Data Source, either type or copy and paste the location to the ACCDB file.-show me-

The ability to browse to an ACCDB file in this dialog box is a Microsoft limitation that cannot be addressed by ESRI.
If required by the database, enter in a password.
Click the Test Connection button. A message should appear stating that the test connection was successful.
Click OK on the Data Link Properties dialog box.
There is now a new OLE DB Connection in the Database Connections folder. Optionally, the new OLE DB Connection can be renamed something that relates to or identifies the database.-show me-
Double clicking the OLEDB Connection and viewing the Contents tab displays the contents of the database. Clicking the plus sign next to the database also displays the contents.-show me-
The contents of this database can now be used in most ArcGIS dialog boxes by navigating to the Database Connections folder. Tables and queries can also be dragged and dropped from the Database Connections folder; for example, into the ArcMap Table of Contents.

Created: 4/27/2007
Last Modified: 11/2/2009