| title | Get Started with SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| description | Get started using SSMA to convert Access database objects to SQL Server or Azure SQL Database objects, upload the resulting objects, and migrate data. | ||||||||
| author | nilabjaball | ||||||||
| ms.author | niball | ||||||||
| ms.reviewer | randolphwest | ||||||||
| ms.date | 12/30/2025 | ||||||||
| ms.service | sql | ||||||||
| ms.subservice | ssma | ||||||||
| ms.topic | get-started | ||||||||
| ms.collection |
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| ms.custom |
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| helpviewer_keywords |
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[!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for Access helps you quickly convert Access database objects to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database objects. You can upload the resulting objects into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database, and migrate data from Access to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database.
If necessary, you can also link Access tables to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database tables so that you can continue to use your existing Access front-end applications with [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database.
This article introduces the installation process and helps you become familiar with the SSMA user interface.
To use SSMA, first install the SSMA client program on a computer that can access both the databases you want to migrate and the target instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. For installation instructions, see Install SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access.
To start SSMA, select Start, point to All Programs, point to SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access, and then select SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access.
After installing SSMA, it's helpful to become familiar with the SSMA user interface before using the tool to migrate Access databases to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. The following diagram shows the SSMA user interface, including the metadata explorers, metadata, toolbars, output pane, and error list pane:
:::image type="content" source="media/ssma-for-access-gui.png" alt-text="Screenshot of SSMA for Access user interface." lightbox="media/ssma-for-access-gui.png":::
To start a migration, create a new project, and then add Access databases to Access Metadata Explorer. You can then right-click objects in Access Metadata Explorer to perform tasks such as:
- Exporting an inventory of Access database objects to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database.
- Creating reports that assess conversions to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database.
- Converting Access schemas to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database schemas.
You can also perform these tasks by using the toolbars and menus.
You must also connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. After a successful connection, a hierarchy of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] databases appears in [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Metadata Explorer. After you convert Access schemas to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] schemas, you can select those converted schemas in [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Metadata Explorer, and then load the schemas into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion].
If you select Azure SQL Database from the Migrate to dropdown list in the new project dialog box, you must connect to Azure SQL Database. After a successful connection, a hierarchy of Azure SQL Database databases appears in Azure SQL Database Metadata Explorer. After you convert Access schemas to Azure SQL Database schemas, you can select those converted schemas in Azure SQL Database Metadata Explorer, and then load the schemas into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion].
After you load converted schemas into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database, you can return to Access Metadata Explorer and migrate data from Access databases into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database databases. If necessary, you can also link Access tables to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database tables.
For more information about these tasks and how to perform them, see the following articles:
- Prepare Access databases for migration
- Migrate Access databases to SQL Server and Azure SQL
- Link Access applications to SQL Server and Azure SQL
The following sections describe the features of the SSMA user interface.
SSMA contains two metadata explorers that you can use to browse and perform actions on Access and [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database databases.
Access Metadata Explorer shows information about the Access databases that are added to the project. When you add an Access database, SSMA retrieves metadata about that database. This metadata is available in Access Metadata Explorer.
Use Access Metadata Explorer to perform the following tasks:
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Browse the tables in each Access database.
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Select objects for conversion and convert the objects to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] syntax. For more information, see Convert Access database objects.
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Select objects for data migration and migrate the data from those objects to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. For more information, see Migrate Access data into SQL Server and Azure SQL.
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Link and unlink Access and [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] tables.
[!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database Metadata Explorer shows information about an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. When you connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database, SSMA retrieves metadata about that instance and stores it in the project file.
Use the SQL Server or Azure SQL Database Metadata Explorer to select converted Access database objects and load (synchronize) those objects into the instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database.
For more information, see Load converted database objects into SQL Server.
To the right of each metadata explorer, tabs describe the selected object. For example, if you select a table in Access Metadata Explorer, four tabs appear: Table, Type Mapping, Properties, and Data. If you select a table in [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Metadata Explorer, three tabs appear: Table, SQL, and Data.
Most metadata settings are read-only. However, you can change the following metadata:
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In Access Metadata Explorer, you can change type mappings. Make these changes before you create reports or convert schemas.
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In [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Metadata Explorer, you can change table and index properties on the Table tab. Make these changes before you load the schemas into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. For more information, see Convert Access database objects.
SSMA has two toolbars: a project toolbar and a migration toolbar.
The project toolbar contains buttons for working with projects, adding Access database files, and connecting to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. These buttons resemble the commands on the File menu.
The migration toolbar contains the following commands:
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Convert, Load, and Migrate | Converts Access databases, loads the converted objects into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database, and migrates data into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database, all in one step. |
| Create Report | Converts the selected Access schema to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database syntax, and then creates a report that shows how successful the conversion was. This command is available only when you select objects in Access Metadata Explorer. |
| Convert Schema | Converts the selected Access schema to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database schemas. This command is available only when you select objects in Access Metadata Explorer. |
| Migrate Data | Migrates data from the Access database to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. Before you run this command, you must convert the Access schemas to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database schemas, and then load the objects into [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. This command is available only when you select objects in Access Metadata Explorer. |
| Stop | Stops the current process, such as converting objects to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database syntax. |
SSMA contains the following menus:
| Menu | Description |
|---|---|
| File | Contains commands for the Migration Wizard, working with projects, adding and removing Access database files, and connecting to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database. |
| Edit | Contains commands for finding and working with text in the details pages, such as copying [!INCLUDE tsql] from the SQL details pane. To open the Manage Bookmarks dialog, on the Edit menu, select Manage Bookmarks. In the dialog, you see a list of existing bookmarks. You can use the buttons on the right side of the dialog to manage the bookmarks. |
| View | Contains the Synchronize Metadata Explorers command. This command synchronizes the objects between Access Metadata Explorer and [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] or Azure SQL Database Metadata Explorer. It also contains commands to display and hide the Output and Error List panes, and an option Layouts to manage with the Layouts. |
| Tools | Contains commands to create reports, export data, migrate objects and data, link tables, and provides access to global and project settings dialog boxes. |
| Help | Provides access to SSMA Help and to the About dialog box. |
The View menu provides commands to toggle the visibility of the Output pane and the Error List pane:
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The Output pane shows status messages from SSMA during object conversion, object synchronization, and data migration.
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The Error List pane shows error, warning, and informational messages in a list that you can sort.