How to convert a Word table into an Access database

Article contributed by Beth Melton

There are a couple of methods you can use for this. Using Excel, if you If you have it, is the easiest way, and you tend to get fewer import errors in Access if you use Excel. However, if you don't have Excel, you can convert your Word table into tab-delimited format, which you can import directly into Access. This is still pretty easy, although it does involve a few additional steps.

Whichever method you use, make sure the first row of your table contains field names that uniquely describe the information in each column. If it doesn’t, then place your cursor in the first row, go to Table/Insert Rows and add your field names.

Using Excel to transfer data between Word and Access:

Copy and Paste the table onto an Excel worksheet
Open your Access database (create a new one if need be)
Select the cells in Excel and copy them
Switch to the Access database, display the Tables object list and click the Paste command
You will receive a message: “Does the first row of your data contain column headings?”. Answer “Yes” and your Access table is created
Right-click the table, select “Rename” and change the name of the table

Tip for power users: if you know how to drag and drop via the Windows Taskbar, the procedure is even easier.

Select the Word table
Drag and drop it into Excel
Drag and drop it onto the Tables object list in Access

Using Word Only

Select the Word table and go to Table/Convert Table to Text
Use the Separate the Text using Tabs option
Go to File/Save As and change the Save as Type to “Text only”. Save and close the file.
Open your Access database (create a new one if needed)
Right-click an empty area of the Tables Object list and select Import
Change the Files of Type to Text Files
Select your text file you saved earlier and work through the Import Text Wizard

Note that once you have your table in Access, you need to go to the Table design and review the data types and field sizes assigned and make the necessary changes.