Can Microsoft Access files be edit in Ubuntu?

The best solution so far for accessing accdb files has been ucanaccess for LibreOffice 4.2

http://ucanaccess.sourceforge.net/site.html

1. I downloaded the latest version (was "UCanAccess-2.0.5-bin.zip"), and unzipped it to a place where I will not delete the files.
2. Then in LibreOffice followed at:
   Tools→Options→LibreOffice→Advanced→Classpaths
   I just added the archives and closed LibreOffice, just like documented on ucanaccess pages.
3. Opening first time requires bit typing. At jdbc: write ucanaccess:// and your mdb or accdb file path/filename.
4. Then at Driver Class field: net.ucanaccess.jdbc.UcanaccessDriver
5. Next give our name and possibly password, and then select where to save it. You are done.

You should be able to move these files to Ubuntu, but a lot will depend on the the files and your skills. Like all projects, you should think carefully about what your future requirements will be.

Using LibreOffice to convert a Microsoft Office Access mdb file to an odb file

You said the files were "way back on Windows XP", so presumably they are mdb files. Access used mdb as the file format through Access 2003/Office XP. LibreOffice Base is able to convert these files to odb format, but doesn't have good instructions for this in the help and requires an additional package.

1. Install mdbtools or run in a terminal: sudo apt-get --reinstall install mdbtools

2. Setup an odbc datasource. This is just a text file that tells LibreOffice how to open the file.

   a. Create ~/.odbc.ini

   b. Contents:

   [DatabaseName]
   Description = Old XP Invoices
   Driver = MDBTools
   Database = /path/to/accessfile.mdb
   

   Note: in the code above, replace "DatabaseName" and "/path/to/accessfile" by the actual (desired) name and path/filename combination, respectively.

3. Start Base. It will usually open to the open/import database wizard. You can also open the wizard from any other LibreOffice program through: File >> New >> Database.

   a. Choose Connect to an existing database >> ODBC

b. Browse to your datasource

c. Click OK

d. On the next two screens, you can Test the connection, then save the database with a new name, and open it for editing.

LibreOffice is able to convert tables, forms, queries, and reports. It will not generally be able to convert any VBA modules.

Using Gnome mdb viewer

Install MDB Viewer [](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/MDB Viewer) or run in a terminal: sudo apt-get --reinstall install mdbtools-gmdb2

MDB Viewer lets you view and export the tables, schema, forms, queries, macros, and modules.

These tools are especially useful if you have an mdb file, but no longer have a licensed copy of Access.

Other options

If you were using Access 2007 on XP, you would need to first save the files in mdb format. There are currently no free tools available to convert or read accdb files.

You might also consider using Access to export the data as xml or csv files and then importing them into Base, MySql, or other freely available databases. Access and Base are good as quick methods to create front ends to data but can be limited as multi-user solutions. MySql and similar options allow you create a solution better suited for multi-users. You would then use Base to easily create a front end that can connect to MySql.

Ubuntu use libreOffice as the default office software package.

With this software, you will be able to open/edit any file that have a Microsoft Office format, so you don't have to worry about a conversion (in must of the cases).

NOTE: You may have format issues, like don't get the exactly same design. For example I draw a simple line in PowerPoint (MO), and then when I open it with Impress (LO) I saw an arrow.