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Migration Wizard (AccessToSQL)

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The Migration Wizard guides you through the migration of one or more databases from Access to SQL Server Or SQL Azure. By using the wizard, you will create a project, add databases to the project, select objects to migrate, and connect to SQL Server Or SQL Azure. You will also convert, load, and migrate Access schemas and data. Optionally, you can link Access tables to SQL Server Or SQL Azure tables.

Most of the Migration Wizard pages contain the same options as existing SSMA dialog boxes. Therefore, the wizard pages are described here, and then links are provided so that you can learn more about individual options. If a page contains unique options, they are documented here.

Starting the Migration Wizard

By default, the Migration Wizard appears when you start SSMA. You can also start the wizard on the File menu by selecting Migration Wizard.

Welcome Page

The Welcome page introduces the Migration Wizard and provides the following option for starting the wizard.

Launch this wizard at startup.
By default, SSMA will start the Migration Wizard when you start SSMA. To prevent the automatic start of the wizard, clear this check box.

Create New Project Page

The Create New Project page is where you enter the project file name, location and migration project type (the version of target SQL Server used for migration). For more information, see New Project (SSMA)

Add Access Databases Page

The Add Access Databases page is where you add one or more Access databases to the project. You can add individual databases by clicking Add Databases, and then selecting the databases from the Open window. Or, you can find databases by using the Find Databases button. For more information, see the following topics:

Select Objects to Migrate Page

On the Select Objects to Migrate page, you select objects to convert. You can select all objects, groups of objects, or individual objects.

To select objects

  1. Expand Access-metabase, and then expand Databases.

  2. Do one or more of the following:

    • To convert all databases, select the check box next to Databases.

    • To convert or omit individual databases, select or clear the check box next to the database name.

    • To convert or omit queries, expand the database, and then select or clear the Queries check box.

    • To convert or omit individual tables, expand the database, expand Tables, and then select or clear the check box next to the table.

If you have many objects, you might want to use the Advanced Object Selection options in the right pane to filter Access database objects. For example, if you select Tables in the left pane, you can then filter the list of tables by entering strings in the Filter box. You can then select or clear the filtered tables for migration by using the buttons at the top of the pane.

For more information about filtering, see the Options section of Advanced Object Selection (SSMA Common).

Connect to SQL Server Page

On the Connect to SQL Server page, you specify connection properties, and then connect to SQL Server. For more information, see Connect to SQL Server.

Important

As soon as the connection succeeds, you will encounter Link Tables page where you have an option of linking the tables. Click Next and the migration starts.

Connect to SQL Azure Page

On the Connect to SQL Azure page, you specify connection properties, and then connect to SQL Azure. To create a new Azure database, you can do so by using Create Azure Database option that appears on the click of Browse button. For more information, see Connect to SQL Azure

Important

As soon as the connection succeeds, you will encounter Link Tables page where you have an option of linking the tables. Click Next button on the Links page to start migration.

Link Tables Page

The Link Tables page lets you link your original Access tables to the migrated SQL Server or SQL Azure tables. Linking tables modifies your Access database so that your queries, forms, reports, and data access pages use the data in the SQL Server or Azure SQL Database instead of the data in your Access database.

Link tables
Select the Link tables check box to link Access tables to the migrated SQL Server or SQL Azure tables. To start migration you should click Next button.

Migration Status Page

The Migration Status page shows the progress of converting the Access schemas to SQL Server or SQL Azure schemas, loading the converted schemas into SQL Server or SQL Azure, and then migrating data.

For more information about this page, see Convert, Load, and Migrate

See Also

Getting Started with SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access (AccessToSQL)
Migrating Access Databases to SQL Server
User Interface Reference(Access)