Using MySQL databases from Access

In Access, select ``File'' and then ``Open''. Click on ``Files of type'' and select ``ODBC Databases'' (refer to figure 14 for more details). Then, in the ``Select Data Source'' dialog box, switch to the ``Machine Data Source'' tab. Select the database you wish to use and click OK. Refer to figure 15 for a sample screen.

Figure 14: Choose ODBC Databases when opening a database in Access.

Figure 15: Select a data source from Machine Data Source.

If all goes well, you will see a dialog box displaying all the tables in the selected database. Select the ones you need, or simply click ``Select All'' to have everything selected. Then, click OK to continue. You may need to choose a field that is unique if a table has no primary key.

Once tables are added, you should see these ``special'' tables with a special ``globe'' icon in the table list like in figure 16.

Figure 16: An ODBC linked table in the list of tables.

For the most part, you can use an ODBC linked table as a normal table. However, the design of such a table cannot be modified in Access. Instead, use Control Center to alter the design of a table.