How to export a Big Access DataBase on a CSV file

Question

How to export a Big Access DataBase on a CSV file

BRENDLEN, Valentin 0

Hello,

I search a way to export my Access database to a CSV file to change the database. I just want a solution or know if that's possible export it because when I try to export it (I click on saved export) User's image

Then I can pick different options between different files and I don't know wich one I should pick. User's image

But after I pick the first one (It's the same for the other).

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Then I don't know how to export the file to CSV.

Can someone help me please ?

George Hepworth 22,220 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-11-07T12:18:54.98+00:00

Before you pursue this further, you probably want to pause and consider whether it's a good idea at all.

First, when you call this "a big Access database", how big, exactly is it? tens of thousands of records in multiple tables? Hundreds of thousands of records? The relative size alone should make us pause and consider whether exporting to csv is a reasonable thing to do.

Second, you can export data from tables to Excel, certainly. However, your screenshot show you are apparently trying to export a parameterized query. That parameter requires a form to be open. This makes no sense to me in the limited context you've shared.
Please explain in more detail what objects you are actually trying to export.

And finally, you indicate the goal is "...to change the database." Again, it's hard to see how exporting data to a csv file is a useful way to change the Access database. Please elaborate on what you hope to accomplish by doing this.

There may be a viable way to achieve your goal, but exporting to csv in this manner doesn't hold a lot of promise as it stands.

Give us the full story so we can offer practical suggestions as to how to procees.

2 answers

Your answer

George Hepworth 22,220 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-11-07T12:18:54.98+00:00

Before you pursue this further, you probably want to pause and consider whether it's a good idea at all.

First, when you call this "a big Access database", how big, exactly is it? tens of thousands of records in multiple tables? Hundreds of thousands of records? The relative size alone should make us pause and consider whether exporting to csv is a reasonable thing to do.

Second, you can export data from tables to Excel, certainly. However, your screenshot show you are apparently trying to export a parameterized query. That parameter requires a form to be open. This makes no sense to me in the limited context you've shared.
Please explain in more detail what objects you are actually trying to export.

And finally, you indicate the goal is "...to change the database." Again, it's hard to see how exporting data to a csv file is a useful way to change the Access database. Please elaborate on what you hope to accomplish by doing this.

There may be a viable way to achieve your goal, but exporting to csv in this manner doesn't hold a lot of promise as it stands.

Give us the full story so we can offer practical suggestions as to how to procees.

Answer 1

Dora-T 8,520 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @BRENDLEN, Valentin

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Based on your screenshot and description, I understand that you’re trying to export your Access data to a CSV file. Here are some steps you might consider trying to see if they can help:

1.Choose or open the table or query you want to export.

2.Go to the External Data tab, and in the Export group, click Text File.

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3.Choose a location and enter a file name that ends with .csv (for example: Table1.csv), then click OK.

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4.In the next window, select Delimited, and click Next.

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5.Choose Comma (,) as the delimiter, check Include Field Names on First Row and click Next.

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6.Click Finish to complete the export.

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You can also select Save export steps if you plan to export the same data regularly. This allows you to quickly repeat the export later from External Data > Saved Exports > Run. If you don’t need to export it again, just click Close to finish.

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For more details, you can also refer to the official Microsoft documentation here: Export data to a text file - Microsoft Support

I hope this helps. If I’ve misunderstood your question, please feel free to let me know.

If the answer is partially helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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BRENDLEN, Valentin 0 Reputation points

2025-11-07T10:51:26.2866667+00:00

Thank you for your quick response,

I need more details about your instruction because when I'm in the step 4 "export text wizard" are not open and it continue with the "save export steps" and close. Then when I try to open the Excel file it's :

The only cause that I can think it's I don't have exact same thing as you :

When I'm trying to save in :

After this I change the txt by CSV like that :

Then this case open:

And this one :

And the file I have is the one right here:

Do you know where the problem come from?
Dora-T 8,520 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-10T11:07:24.37+00:00

Hi @BRENDLEN, Valentin

Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.

Thank you for the update and for sharing the screenshots.

Based on the images you provided, it seems that you’re exporting a form instead of a table or query.

If so, forms might not be exported directly to a CSV file, since CSV usually only supports plain data without any layout or formatting.

When exporting a form, Access might automatically enable the option “Export data with formatting and layout”, which then appears greyed out and can’t be changed. In that case, Access may export the formatted view rather than the raw data, so the Export Text Wizard (where you choose “Delimited” or “Comma”) might not appear.

I hope this helps clarify what could be happening.
Dora-T 8,520 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-11T12:19:23.37+00:00

Hi @BRENDLEN, Valentin

I hope you’re doing well.

Just checking in to see if you've had a chance to check my previous reply.

I look forward to your response.
Dora-T 8,520 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-13T07:32:30.49+00:00

Hi @BRENDLEN, Valentin

It has been a while since your last approach.

May I know if you have checked on my recent response?

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Answer 2

As I stated in my initial post, I believe you are on the wrong track here. Continuing to pursue the goal of exporting something -- whether that is a table, or a form, or a report -- to a csv in order to "to change the database" simply doesn't make sense.

Please respond by explaining how exporting anything from the Access accdb to a csv file will help you "change the database" in some useful way.

There probably is a good way to help you achieve your purpose. However, we need more details about that purpose to be able to offer useful, relevant guidance.

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How to export a Big Access DataBase on a CSV file

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