Creating an Access Table in MapInfo Pro - MapInfo_Pro - 2023

You can create a new Microsoft Access table in an existing Microsoft Access database (.MDB or .ACCDB), or in a new database. After you create an Access table in MapInfo Pro for the first time, MapInfo Pro creates a definition for the table and gives it a .TAB extension. This enables you to treat it like any other MapInfo Pro table.

MapInfo Pro is multi-user enabled. MapInfo Pro users and users of other applications can simultaneously view and modify records from a table in an MS Access database, provided that the other applications do not open the database exclusively.

However, attempts to use the following commands (on the TABLE tab, in the Maintenance group, click Table) will fail if another application-including another instance of MapInfo Pro-is using the table:

• Modify Structure
• Pack Table
• Delete Table
• Rename Table

To create an Access table in MapInfo Pro:

1. On the TABLE tab, in the Content group, click New Table to open the New Table dialog box.
2. Decide how you want to display the new table and select from the following check boxes. You can choose more than one and MapInfo Pro will add the new windows accordingly.
   • Open New Browser - Select this check box to display the new table as a Browser window.
   • Open New Mapper - Select this check box to display the new table as a Map window.
   • Add to Current Mapper - Select this check box to add the new table to the current Map window.
3. Decide the table structure you want for your new Access table. Select one of the following:
   • Create New - Select this button to create a new table structure.
   • Using Table - Select this button to create the new table based on the table structure of an existing table. Select the table you want to copy from the drop-down list.
4. After you complete these selections, click Create. The New Table Structure dialog box displays.
   Note: If you selected the Using Table button in the previous step, the fields in the table you copied display in the New Table Structure list.
5. Do one of the following:
   • If you are adding an entirely new table, click the Add Field button and add the fields you want this table to contain. Continue to add fields until your table is complete.
   • If you are copying an existing table, click the Add Field button to add fields, or highlight a field you want to remove and click the Remove Field as appropriate.
6. When the table structure is complete, click Create to create the table. The Create New Table dialog box opens.
7. In the Save in field, specify the path to use to create the MapInfo Pro table definition (.tab file) of your Access file. The MapInfo Pro .TAB file keeps information about an Access file registered in MapInfo Pro.
8. In the Save As Type field choose Microsoft Access Database and click Save to display the Save Access Table dialog box. The default database displays in the dialog box. The default is determined by the name of the .TAB file you entered. The default has the same name as the .TAB file. A database for this file may or may not exist.
   • If the database you specified does not exist, you can use the Save Access Table dialog box to specify the version of Microsoft Access you want to use for the database. Choose from the Version drop-down list.
   • If a database does exist, the Save Access Table dialog box indicates the version of the database. It also lists the tables in the database.
9. To create your table in the default database, use the default file name or enter a new one in the Enter the name of the new Access table field.

   The default file name is the same name specified in the Create New Table dialog box. Click OK to create the new table to the default database.

   To save this table into another database, proceed to the next step.

10. Click the Database button. The Select Access Database dialog box displays.
11. In the Save in drop-down list, specify the location of the Access database. This is where you will create the table.
12. Click the database you want to create the table in. The name displays in the File Name box. To specify a new database, enter the name in the File Name box.
13. Click Save to open the Save Access Table dialog box again.

    If you chose an existing database, the name and version display in the dialog box. Any tables already in the database are listed in the Existing Tables box.

    If you specified a new database, select the database version from the Version drop-down list.

14. The file name you chose in the Create New Table dialog box displays in the Enter the name of the new Access table box. You can use this name or specify a different name. Click OK.

MapInfo Pro creates the table as a Microsoft Access table in the database you specified.