Migrating Access Databases to SQL Azure

Step 1: Download and Install “Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant 2008 for Access v 4.2” from

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=5abe098d-c7e1-46c6-994a-09a2856eef0b&displaylang=en

Step 2: Register SSMA 2008 for Access and download License and install the License

Step 3: Run SSMA 2008 for Access v 4.2

Click Next to create a new Migration Project

Specify Project Name and Select Project File Location and select Migration To: “SQL Azure”

Click “Add Databases” to Select the Access Database(s) you want to migrate

If you are not sure the location of your database , click “Find Databases” to find it

You can search using the following criteria

1. Specify a folder such as C:\Databases

2. Specifying a part of the file name

3. Created or Updated Date

4. Size of the database

5. Owner of the database

After adding you databases, Click “Next” to proceed

Select the Tables and Queries you want to Migrate

Specify “SQL Azure” Server Name, username and password and the click “Browse”

Click “Yes” to Continue

You can select any existing SQL Azure database, or Create New SQL Azure Database

Specify Database Name, You can select Database Size as 1 GB or 10 GB and then click “Create”

Click “Ok” to proceed

If you still want to continue using Access as Front End for your SQL Azure database, check “Link Tables” option to create Linked Tables in your Access database and click “Next” to proceed

Once the scripts are prepared and ready, you will be prompted to confirm the SQL Azure information again

Enter the Password and click Connect

Review the List of tables and its associated Indexes and Triggers ready to be migrated and then click “Ok” to proceed

The above Legends explains the directions of data migration

You can click on legends “Blue Arrow” to change the direction, in the above screenshot, we have selected “Order Details” not to be migrated

Click “Ok” should start the migration process

After migration, you should be able see the tables migrated in SQL Azure server

For all the tables, a TimeStamp field will be added as last column for enabling continuous Data Migration

Using SQL Azure Metadata Explorer, You can generate Reports to identify the issues in migration or Migrate data from one or multiple tables

Sample Migration Report

Table level report

Now you can access your data in SQL Azure using SQL Server Management Studio or SQL Azure Management Portal or Any Applications supporting SQL Azure connections

Happy Migration !!!