Link Multiple Lists to a single Microsoft Access Database in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
We're running Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. I currently administer a SharePoint site where one of my columns is set to lookup a column in another list. I use a linked table in Microsoft Access to work with the data. What I’m trying to do is link to the table where I’m doing the look-up from as well as the table where the look-up is pointing to – to the same Microsoft Access database. When I attempt to link the second list to my Access database, I get the following error message: “The database you are attempting to connect to is not available. If you are trying to export or link a view of the list of Microsoft Access, import or link to that view from Access instead. If you're trying to create an Access report with that view, import the data into access and generate a report from there.” My presumption is that it is not possible to link two SharePoint databases to a single Microsoft Access database. Is that correct? I also tried linking the two SharePoint lists to two separate Microsoft Access databases and then I tried to link between the Microsoft Access databases themselves to accomplish the same result. However, when I did so the table I was trying to link to did not appear within Access. I am not a techie. Is there any way to go from Access and link to SharePoint (as opposed to having to get to Access from SharePoint.)? Any ideas how I can access the columns in different lists from within the same database would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave
April 1st, 2010 9:57pm

Hi, Just to clarify, you want to use Access to connect to columns in different lists from SharePoint? Ok, the following assumes you're using Access 2007 Open Access Create new Db Select External Data, SharePoint List Enter Site, choose Link to the data source by creating a linked table Click next, then choose the lists you want to link to, click OK. Click Create, Table, then go into Design mode Add a field, and then on the field type choose Lookup Wizard Click next then you will be able to access the columns from the linked lists in the DB - this means you can have one Access db with one table accessing multiple columns from multiple linked lists. There's some more information here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA012303131033.aspx and here: http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/blogs/GetThePoint/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?List=8d9e2a99-f288-47c2-916b-2f32864f7b82&ID=68&RootFolder=* Hope this helps Geoff
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April 1st, 2010 10:25pm

Hi Geoff: That is exactly what we need. Thank's so much for your help. Dave
April 5th, 2010 4:11pm

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