compare access databases

[Liz]

I have used beyond compare before to easily compare documents, but yestserday was my first attempt to compare 2 access databases. I found that differences were not being displayed because numbers stored within the tables to 6dp were being rounded so differences were being missed. For individual tables, I got around this by exporting them to xml and comparing the output - obviously this is not a practical solution for a database with many tables. Is there a way to do a direct comparison of 2 access databases and ensure that number formats are preserved?

[Aaron]

Hello,

I setup a test system with a trial of MS Access 2010, BC 3.3.4, and a simple MS Access database file. I did not see the rounding you are running into using our MS Access file format for the Text Compare session type.

Are you using a different setup? Would it be possible to email us with sample files and your current BCSupport.zip from the Help menu -> Support; Export? Our email is [email protected] and please include a link to this forum post for our reference.

[Rapidtraverse]

How do you compare MS Access data bases?

I also would like to use beyond compare to analyze Microsoft Access Databases and have not experienced success.

Can anyone recommend a convenient and practical method in which to compare MS Access Databases?

[Aaron]

Hello Rapid,

Are you using our additional download available to convert the files to plain text and compare them? The MS Access Database file format is available here:
http://scootersoftware.com/download....oreformats_win

If you are running into any problems with the conversion (which requires a version of Access that can read your files), please feel free to post or email us example files. Our email is [email protected] and please include a link to this forum post for reference.