How to merge two databases together...data, forms, table relationships and all?

Question

I'm trying to merge two rather complex databases together.  They have some shared tables, forms and queries.  I can't seem to find a way to merge the databases other than doing a File>Import for every table, form and query.  Is there an easier way to do this?

Brian

Answer 1

I don't know of another way that would be any easier.  In fact, I would be very careful when using the IMPORT operations because name and other clashes require human decisions to do intelligently.  For example, importing relationships might destroy existing relationships and/or create duplicates.  I would take it slow and easy with a lot of thought about each object that might have any kind of interaction with the existing database.  For those objects that are independent of stuff in the original database, you can select those objects and biring them in all in one shot.  Besure to keep safe backups of both databases so you can revert when you find out about an entanglement you forgot to considers.  I would at least consider writing a VBA procedure to do each step (probably at least the relationships) so I could rerun the parts of the import where I had ironed out the details, but later ran into something that I needed to revert and do differently.

Answer 2

One thing that might help is my Database Merge Analysis tool (free).  I created it because I was tasked to merge 4 databases into one when I came on to my current job and I needed some help in figuring out what was shared and what might not be.  It isn't perfect but it will give you a good start and help out.

You can download it here (near the bottom of the page):

http://www.btabdevelopment.com/ts/freetools

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Bob Larson, Former Access MVP (2008-2010)

Answer 3

You do know you can do multiple imports each time.

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Build a little, test a little.

Answer 4

Sorry, but no, there isn't an easier way for the data.

You can, of course, import multiple objects at once.

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Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP

http://www.AccessMVP.com/djsteele (no e-mails, please!)