Access
Oracle

Access to Oracle Converter

Move from Access file databases to Oracle on-prem, Oracle Cloud, or Amazon RDS for Oracle. Schema conversion, type mapping, and optional two-way sync.

Access to Oracle migration moves tables from a local .mdb or .accdb file into an Oracle server database.

The usual driver is moving a departmental Access file beyond desktop limits while keeping the data available to Oracle-based reporting, applications, or cloud infrastructure. The hard part is separating the database tables from the forms, reports, macros, and VBA that lived in the same file.

Which DBConvert tool fits?

Use Oracle SQL Developer as the free baseline; use DBConvert products when you need a controlled desktop workflow or synchronization.

DBConvert for Access → Oracle

One-time conversion with source-file selection, field and index mapping, supported Access query conversion, saved sessions, direct Oracle targets, or an Oracle dump file when the DBA controls the final import.

DBSync for Access ↔ Oracle

Repeat synchronization when an Access file remains in production while Oracle becomes the shared backend, reporting store, or downstream system; see database synchronization concepts for the underlying workflow.

Need more context? Compare DBConvert and DBSync side by side →

How DBConvert handles the Access → Oracle differences

Access is both a database file and an application platform; Oracle is only the backend. DBConvert moves the database side with sensible defaults that you can review or override per table; the application objects stay in Access or are rebuilt outside the migration.

Field type mapping

Access type Oracle type
AutoNumberNUMBER + sequence + trigger (or GENERATED ... AS IDENTITY on 12c+)
Yes/NoNUMBER(1)
Long Text / MemoCLOB
CurrencyNUMBER(19,4)
Date/TimeDATE
HyperlinkVARCHAR2
OLE Object / AttachmentBLOB

Lookup fields keep their underlying value type.

Driver and Windows requirements

Connects through Microsoft Jet (32-bit) or ACE OLE DB (32-bit or 64-bit) on Windows - DBConvert ships in matching architectures, so picking the build that matches the installed Office / Access architecture is a one-click decision, not a debugging session.

Identifiers and schemas

Folds Access table names into a single Oracle schema picked in the wizard, normalizes mixed-case identifiers to Oracle's upper-case convention (or preserves quoted identifiers if you keep that policy), and truncates names to Oracle's identifier-length limit where needed.

Forms, reports, macros, VBA - out of scope

These are part of the Access application, not the database. DBConvert's migration covers tables (with their fields, types, defaults, and indexes), views, and foreign keys. Forms and reports continue to work as a front end against linked Oracle tables (Access ODBC / OleDB), or are rebuilt in a web / .NET / BI front end as a separate workstream.

Choosing the migration route

Access to Oracle projects split into three jobs: moving tables, keeping an Access front end, or rebuilding the application.

Route Best fit Boundary
Oracle SQL Developer Free official Oracle route for Access, including Copy to Oracle for table-and-data copy jobs and the Migration Wizard for broader schema work. Good for one-time Oracle-owned migrations; choose DBConvert when you need saved sessions, repeatable runs, or DBSync staged synchronization.
DBConvert / DBSync Desktop migration from .mdb or .accdb files into Oracle, with type mapping, query-to-view handling, saved sessions, dump export, and optional staged synchronization. Commercial Windows tool; moves database objects and data, while Access forms, reports, macros, and VBA remain outside the database migration.
Dedicated paid converters Narrow one-time table and data conversion when the team wants a simple standalone Access-to-Oracle utility. Usually less useful when you need bidirectional sync, repeatable sessions across many database pairs, or a staged Access-to-Oracle rollout.
Access linked tables over ODBC Keeping the existing Access front end while Oracle becomes the backend for shared tables. Requires Access form/report testing, primary keys on linked tables, Oracle driver setup, and careful handling of Access queries that call local VBA or form controls.

Supported versions

  • MS Access .mdb (Jet) and .accdb (ACE) files
  • WorkGroups credentials and linked tables
  • Oracle 10g and later, including Oracle XE and Oracle Cloud
  • No Oracle client or ODBC driver required

Supported in this path

Source Access
Target Oracle
Microsoft Access Oracle Database Oracle Database XE Oracle Cloud Amazon RDS for Oracle
Access

All Access Tools

Other directions and pairs
Oracle

All Oracle Tools

Migration & sync options

Reverse Conversion

Oracle to Access

Using Access to Oracle Tools

When launching the DBConvert or DBSync application in GUI mode, it guides you through the steps to start database migration or synchronization:

1

Connect to Access source database

Specify the username/password and host/port parameters if your source database requires login credentials.

Connect to Access source database from DBConvert

Access source

Select the source .mdb or .accdb file. If it uses Access WorkGroups, enable WorkGroups and enter those credentials on the source step.

2

Connect to Oracle destination database

Specify parameters for the destination database similar to the source, defining connection settings and username/password pairs.

Connect to Oracle target database from DBConvert

Oracle target

Configure the Oracle target with the Oracle connection settings. For client, NLS, or authentication errors, use the Oracle troubleshooting guide.

More guides for Access ↔ Oracle

Next steps: configure, validate, run

After connecting source and target, the remaining steps are the same for every database pair:

  • Configure migration options - pick tables, fields, indices, views.
  • Issue detection - the built-in checker flags integrity problems before migration starts.
  • Execute - commit the job, monitor progress, save the session for reuse.
  • Schedule and CLI - rerun saved sessions on a schedule or from the command line.
Open the full guide

Steps 3-5, software features, command-line mode, scheduler, and system requirements.

See all features