OHSU's Software Forum

Mike Miller · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Portland, Oregon

MS Access 2007 databases (extension .accdb) can only be accessed by users who have MS Access 2007 on their workstations.

If you are creating a new database in Access 2007, or are upgrading a current database to Access 2007 please be aware of the impact it will have on users who do not yet have the new version on their workstations.

Here is a simple Access Database Version Compatibility Matrix:

Access 2007 (.accdb)--> Available only to other Access 2007 users
Access 2002 (a.k.a. XP)/2003 (.mdb) --> Available to Access 2002, 2003 & 2007 users
Access 2000 (.mdb) --> Available to Access 2000
Access 97 -- > Available to Access 97 users only

You will given the option to upgrade if you open an older database in a newer version of Access but you *do not have to upgrade* to use the database as it was designed.

Finally, when creating a new database in Access 2007 you can save it in an earlier version of Access so that it remains compatible to users with older versions of Access.

-- Mike

weatherc · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

On the issue of Access 2000 databases, the matrix in the original post can be interpreted either as "Access 2000 users can't see higher than 2000" (true) or (in the context of the subsequent 97 point) "2000 can't be opened in 2002/2003 or 2007." (false)

Just to be clear, Access 2002/2003/2007 users can open Access 2000 databases.

Mike Miller · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Portland, Oregon

Yes, good point!

The can open them, but may be required to upgrade before much can be done.

-- Mike