How to Import a Works for Windows Database to MS Access

ID: q93429

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article describes how to import a Microsoft Works for Windows Database file into a Microsoft Access database.


MORE INFORMATION

Save the Works Database File

First, save the Works for Windows Database file in a format compatible with Microsoft Access using the following method:

  1. Open the Database file in Works for Windows.


  2. Make sure the field widths in the Form view of the database are large enough to display all the information in each field.


  3. Check the numeric format of each field containing text, and make sure it is set to General or Text. If the format of any text field is set to a specific numeric format, such as Currency or Date, that field will be blank when opened in Microsoft Access.


  4. When saving in dBASE format, field names will be truncated at 10 characters, so make sure the first 10 characters of each field name are unique. For example, two fields named "Address 1" and "Address 2" would be fine, but "Address Line 1" and "Address Line 2" would not be.

    NOTE: If the first 10 characters in two or more fields are the same, you will receive a "Can't define field more than once" error message when opening in Microsoft Access.


  5. From the File menu, choose Save As.


  6. Select a directory to save the database into. To make it easy to open in Microsoft Access, select the Microsoft Access directory.


  7. Enter a new name, without an extension, in the File Name field.


  8. From the Save File As Type list, select dBASE IV and choose OK.

    NOTE: If the error message "Some Field Text was Truncated" is displayed, return to step 2 above to increase the field widths.


  9. Exit or minimize Works for Windows.


Import the Works Database File into Microsoft Access

Next, you can import the new Works for Windows file into a Microsoft Access database by following these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Access.


  2. If you want to import the Works for Windows data into an existing Microsoft Access database, choose Open Database from the File menu.

    If you want to import the Works for Windows data into a new database, choose New Database from the File menu. Type a new filename and choose OK.

    NOTE: Do not use the same name as the Works for Window file or you will receive the error message:


    3. This file is already in use.
  3. From the File menu, choose Import.


  4. In the Data Source dialog box, select dBASE III, dBASE IV, or Text (Delimited), depending on the format chosen when the Database file was saved in Works for Windows, and then choose OK.


  5. In the Select File dialog box, select All Files from the List Files Of Type list box. Then, find and select your Works for Windows Database file and choose the Import button.


  6. If you selected dBASE III or dBASE IV as the data source, Microsoft Access will begin importing your Works for Windows data.

    If you selected Text (Delimited) as the data source, Microsoft Access presents the Import Text Options dialog box. Choose OK to begin importing the Works for Windows data.


  7. When finished importing, Microsoft Access presents a confirmation message box. Choose OK.


  8. In the Select File dialog box, choose Close.


The Works for Windows file has been imported into Microsoft Access. If you want to view the imported data, select the new table in the Tables list and choose Open. If you want to discard the Works for Windows file used to transfer your data into Microsoft Access, you can delete the file using File Manager.

For information about importing Works for Windows spreadsheets into Microsoft Access, query on the following Microsoft Access article:
Q93698 ACC: How to Import Spreadsheets from MS Works for Windows

Additional query words: 2.00a 3.00 3.00a 3.00b 4.00 conversion export convert transfer w_works b_waccess 


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0; WINDOWS|MACINTOS:2.0,2.0a,3.0,3.0a,3.0b
Platform          : WINDOWS WINDOWS|MACINTOS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: June 21, 1999