Member Avatar for surreal7

I have a database filemaker pro that i wish to stop using and start using Access. This will help with all of my sharepoint thoughts. So if anyone knows the best way to import/export the database from filemaker pro to Access

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For migrating a FileMaker Pro solution into Access there are a few practical issues beyond the quick export suggestion from and . ’s question about file format is relevant only if planning a direct connector; most migrations follow a table-by-table data export/import and then rebuilding relationships, forms and business logic in Access.

Data model and keys: FileMaker tables often lack a durable numeric primary key. Create a stable ID field before export so foreign-key links survive. FileMaker “repeating” fields do not map to Access — convert them to child tables (one row per value) so relationships remain normalized. Verify field types and lengths; long text should be imported as Access Long Text (Memo) to avoid truncation.

Attachments and special fields: Container fields do not transfer as table cells. Export container contents out to files and either import them into Access Attachment fields (ACCDB) or store file paths and keep files on a share. Calculations, scripts, value lists and layouts in FileMaker will not migrate — plan to reimplement logic as Access queries, VBA, or stored procedures.

Import strategy and checks: Import into a pre-created Access schema (set data types explicitly) rather than letting the import wizard auto-detect types. Work with a small subset first, confirm record counts and key-based joins, then migrate full datasets. Watch date/time formats and regional decimal separators; normalize formats before import to prevent type errors. Keep full backups of original FileMaker files before each step.

SharePoint note: If the end goal is SharePoint, consider whether tables should become SharePoint lists (Access can export/link) or whether a SQL Server backend with Access front end and SharePoint/PowerApps UI is more appropriate for multi-user, concurrent scenarios.

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Member Avatar for jbennet

what format are the filemaker pro files

Member Avatar for MidiMagic

Can you export to Excel? If so, importing is easy.

Member Avatar for javaintern

You can go filemaker pro to excel to access

upload the excel information to your access project.

File -> export -> choose .xls and go from there

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