Import a Word text file into Access

1. In Microsoft Word, save a copy of the file as a comma-delimited or tab-delimited unformatted text file.

   How?

   1. If the data is already saved in comma-delimited or tab-delimited format, skip ahead to step 3.

   2. If the data is in a table, convert the table to text.

      How?

      1. Select the rows or table that you want to convert to paragraphs.
      2. On the Table menu, point to Convert, and then click Table to Text.
      3. Under Separate text with, click the option for the separator character you want to use in place of the column boundaries.

         Rows are separated with paragraph marks.

         For Help on an option, click the question mark , and then click the option.

   3. Make sure the delimited text file has the same type of data in each field and the same fields in every row.
   4. On the File menu, click Save As.
   5. In the File name box, enter a new file name.
   6. In the Save as type list, click Plain Text, and then click Save.
2. Switch to Microsoft Access, and then open a new or existing database.
3. In the Database window, click Tables on the Objects bar.
4. On the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import.
5. In the Files of type box, click Text Files.
6. In the File name box, enter the name of the text file to import.
7. Click Import.
8. Follow the directions in the Import Text Wizard dialog boxes.

   To see more options or to change specifications, such as the field separator character, click Advanced in the first wizard dialog box. If you want to save your specifications so that you can use them the next time you import a similar text file, click Save As.