Errors Importing Data from a Microsoft Access ACCDB Database Format into SQL Server

Provided by Aparna Pophale, Quality Assurance Specialist

Problem

While attempting to import a Microsoft Access ACCDB format database (created by Access 2007 or later) from the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, you receive an error such as:

The operation could not be completed. Unrecognized Database Format <ACCDB file path>. (Microsoft JET Database Engine)

Test connection failed because of an error initializing provider. Could not find installable ISAM.

These errors occur if you do not have the appropriate driver installed to import data from ACCDB files. Fortunately, it's easily solved.

Solution

Importing Microsoft Access MDB databases into SQL Server is a built in feature of SQL Server. However, because of the difference between the database engine of the ACCDB file format introduced with Microsoft Access 2007, it is not possible to connect to the Access 2007 database using the built-in data source "Microsoft Access". You can use this if you wish to import data from a MDB format, but not an ACCDB from MS Access 2007 or later.

Before importing data from a Microsoft Access ACCDB database, you must install the OLEDB Provider for Microsoft Office 12.0 Access Database Engine. Microsoft offers free download of Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable. For the direct link, visit our Microsoft Access Version Features and Differences Comparison Matrix page, in the "Database Formats and Security" section.

After installing the 2007 Office System driver, you will see another Data Source option, "Microsoft Office 12.0 Access Database Engine", when importing data into SQL Server. Use that and your data is imported as expected.

Microsoft SQL Server Import and Export Wizard