Understanding and Creating an Access Project - Populating with Data

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With the database created, it is now possible to add in data. In this tutorial, we shall see how we can link to an already existing SQL database so that we can use that data in the Access Project.

Linking with Data

You can link to existing data by going to the File -->Get External Data--> Link Tables.... In this tutorial you will link to the tables, and therefore you choose Link Tables.

This action wakes up another wizard, the Linked Table Wizard. The wizard helps you with linking to the tables on the database, using an OLEDB connection. Here you have two choices. The radio button Linked Server choice gives the most functionality, and allows storing the connection information on the SQL Server. For the tables that need to be used (or linked to), views will be created on the SQL Server. Make sure you read the information provided on this screen. By choosing the Linked Server, it may even be possible to update data on the server, if the OLEDB supports updating. The choice Transact SQL provides a read-only connection. After the choice, click Next.

This opens up the Select Data Source which allows you to browse for an existing connection from a listed source of existing connections, My Data Sources. Here you will make a new connection by clicking on the New Source... button as shown in the next picture.

This brings up the Data Connection Wizard as shown. Here you will see a list of all sources that support the OLEDB connectivity, such as OLAP Server, Oracle, and so on. Choose the Microsoft  SQL Server and click Next.

Next: Connecting to SQL Server >>
 

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