Access provides several options that support exchanging data with external sources.

• Linking. Using this option entails creating a permanent connection to the external source. The data stays in the source location. The location cannot be moved without modifying the link or else Access will not be able to find it.
• Importing. This method physically moves data from the outside source into the current Access database. The data is then converted to an Access data type, stored in an Access table, and remains in Access from that point on.
• Exporting. Exporting copies data from an Access table into either a text file or some other format that is readable by the destination application.

Importing External Data

Remember that importing external data makes a copy of the data within Access and does not affect the data in the external source. After the import, no connection remains between the current database and the external source.

One of the keys to a viable business system is the ease in which it can work with other applications and data sources. In this regard, Access is unmatched.

Access provides two groups of data sources as seen in the example below: “Import & Link” and “Export.” Within “Import & Link” we have “New Data Source,” “Saved Imports,” and “Linked Table Manager.”

Selecting “New Data Source” opens a drop-down which exposes 4 options: “From File,” “From Database,” “From Online Services,” and “From Other Sources,” as seen below.

Choosing “From File” reveals “Excel,” “HTML Document,” “XML File,” and “Text File” as data formats. “From Database” reveals 4 database formats “Access,” “From SQL Server,” “From Azure Database,” “dBase File.” “From Online Services” represents “SharePoint List” and “Data Services” and “From Other Sources” yields “ODBC Database” and “Outlook Folder.”

It is obvious that Access has rich capabilities by virtue of its many options in which to process external data.

Exporting Data

Exporting data from Access is a fairly straightforward operation. The “External Data” export group is shown below. As an example, to export the contents of the Supplier table in the current database as a .PDF file, select “PDF or XPS.”

Access then asks for a destination for the .PDF file.

Since most devices have an application that displays .PDF files, the exported data is populated in .PDF format as the example below.

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