Downloading Data for Access SQL

[WWGD]

Hi all,
I want to do some Access SQL queries on some data. Do I need to have the data in some special format/extension to be able to "use it" , meaning do queries on it within Access SQL?
Thanks

 

[jedishrfu]

I imagine you have to design a table in Access and import your data into the table. Sometimes people will export data from a spreadsheet to CSV format and then use the cvs format to import into Access. However, MS may have a more direct route.

Once inside Access then you can issue SELECT statements to retrieve and sort, group or summarize your data.

https://support.office.com/en-sg/ar...o-Access-90c35a40-bcc3-46d9-aa7f-4106f78850b4

and on SQL

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...d-syntax-444d0303-cde1-424e-9a74-e8dc3e460671

 

[WWGD]

Thanks, Jedishfru. A really simpleton (i.e., dumb) question: Is access just one of many "platforms" for SQL? I know SQL is the (main) language used to query relational databases, is this correct that Micro Access is just one of many platforms, others being Oracle (only other one I know)?

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, SQL is the language for accessing relational data ie data stored in tables that are linked together by keys. One SQL statement is a program in itself in the hands of a master SQL programmer.

Some common relational databases are IBM DB/2, Oracle, and MS SqlServer. There are other popular ones including MySql, H2 Database ...

Here's a list of major vendors:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database_management_system

 

[harborsparrow]

Versions of Microsoft Access 2010 and earlier can use ODBC to attach directly to data in a Microsoft SQL Server (or other ODBC-compliant) databases. Also, there are tools for importing Excel data to Access.

I cannot refrain from mentioning, however, how limited and clumsy Access SQL is. Microsoft SQL Server's T-SQL is much more powerful, and local versions of that database are free and easy to work with. I despise despise despise Access SQL, after 9 years of working both with it and T-SQL.

 

[WWGD]

Versions of Microsoft Access 2010 and earlier can use ODBC to attach directly to data in a Microsoft SQL Server (or other ODBC-compliant) databases. Also, there are tools for importing Excel data to Access.

I cannot refrain from mentioning, however, how limited and clumsy Access SQL is. Microsoft SQL Server's T-SQL is much more powerful, and local versions of that database are free and easy to work with. I despise despise despise Access SQL, after 9 years of working both with it and T-SQL.

Thanks ,Harborsparrow. How well does knowledge of Access SQL transfer to the other SQL platforms?

 

[harborsparrow]

Thanks ,Harborsparrow. How well does knowledge of Access SQL transfer to the other SQL platforms?

It's all SQL--but I don't really know. I am mainly familiar with T-SQL and Access SQL, and have used Oracle SQL just a little. I believe that T-SQL is closer to the standard, but I could be wrong. I can't bring up a code example right now, but there were a few things that were significantly more difficult, if not impossible, in Access SQL. Access itself may be part of the problem; it wasn't easy to had unique (primary) keys to tables that didn't already have them, for starters. I also missed having stored procedures. My workplace hired a guy who liked Access SQL, and whenever possible, I gave that work off to him, but I did come across these differences. I don't think I'm hungry enough to take a job working with Access and its version of SQL all the time.