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