1. Access Compatible Database For Mac

If you are a newcomer to the macOS, then you might be looking for some programs that you are familiar with. These programs can be personal or work-related and in this article, we are going to discuss Microsoft Access for Mac.

We are going to take a look at Microsoft Access’ availability on macOS and also other alternatives that you can use on Apple’s hardware. We are also going to take a look at how to install them. Ready? Let’s get started.

IDatabase is the Mac app that simplifies the creation of databases, inventories, collections and lists of items. IDatabase is the best there is for those who want to manage, store and quickly find any information for their passions and for everyday work. Jun 21, 2003  Nonprofit Technology Chat: The best database software for Mac and PC users? Nonprofit Technology Chat: The best database software for Mac and PC users? But in the past Access has not been ported to the Mac. FileMaker, on the other hand, started on the Mac and was ported to the Win platform so, it's probably your best bet. Jun 26, 2006  Well, there are options, but none of them involve having Access running on Mac. AFAIK OpenOffice.org (and by extension NeoOffice) support access databases, although the user interface is somewhat different and I don't know if the reports and queries and such are compatible. I mentioned merely as a potential avenue of investigation.

Contents

Access Compatible Database For Mac

• 2 Best Methods to Get Microsoft Access for Mac
  • 2.2 2. Using Boot Camp Assistant

Is Microsoft Access Available for Mac?

Microsoft Access is a database management program that is used by individuals and companies. If you have done any prior research on the subject, you might already know that Microsoft does not make a macOS version of their software. But do not worry, as this does not mean you cannot use Access or an Access alternative on your Mac.

In the next section, we are going to take a look at ways you can use Microsoft Access on your Mac and also some of the best alternatives for it.

Best Methods to Get Microsoft Access for Mac

This list contains five things you can do to get Microsoft Access for Mac. The methods are not ranked and offer slightly different advantages, so you can choose whatever suits you best. The first 2 methods on this list will be focused on getting the original Microsoft Access for Mac.

1. Using Virtual Machines

Virtual machines are really cool. They let you emulate another computer system without restarting your system or partitioning your drive. Softwares like VMWare and Parallel Desktop 15 lets you run the Windows operating system without a lot of hiccups. Virtual Machines do cause a slight performance hit but if you choose the right software, this can be minimized. After installing Windows on your VM, you can easily run any Windows application.

I won’t recommend that you buy VM just to use Microsoft Access but if you have other essential Windows programs that have no alternatives or if you need to use Microsoft Access for some reason, you should definitely buy it. You can check out VMWare and Parallel Desktop 15. Both offer trial versions so you can make an informed decision.

2. Using Boot Camp Assistant

Boot Camp Assistant lets you easily install Windows 10 on your Mac and also lets you switch between macOS and Windows during restart. The only reason to consider Boot Camp over virtual machines is that there is no performance hit whatsoever. There are several requirements for this method.

Requirements

1. Latest macOS update.
2. 16 GB external USB flash drive.
3. 64GB or more free storage for a nice experience.
4. A 64-bit Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro ISO. You can download it on Microsoft’s website.

Compatible Devices

The following are the compatible devices listed on the Apple website.

1. 2015 MacBook or later
2. MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
3. MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
4. Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
5. iMac introduced in 2012 or later1
6. iMac Pro (all models)
7. Mac Pro introduced in 2013

How to Use Boot Camp Assistant

1. Open Boot Camp and follow the instructions. You will be asked to insert your USB drive so that Boot Camp can turn it into a bootable drive for Windows installation. You will also be asked to choose the partition size. Remember that it has to be at least 64GB because you can’t change it later on.
2. Your computer will restart soon and it will show you WIndows installer. You will be asked to choose the partition you want to install Windows in. After choosing, press Format.
3. Unplug any other drives or external displays (do not unplug the bootable USB drive) and just follow the instructions shown. Windows will be installed.
4. After the restart, you will be taken to the Bootcamp WIndow. Install Bootcamp and other Windows drivers and your Mac will restart again. That’s all you have to do.

3. Wizard

If you don’t want the hassle of installing an entirely different OS on your Mac and you are willing to use an alternative to Microsoft Access, then Wizard is for you. Wizard lets you easily create databases and crunch numbers. Just like Access, it offers a ton of features and that is why it is considered Microsoft Access for Mac. You can even import your Access MDB files.

The normal version of Wizard is available on the Mac App Store for $79.99 while the Pro version is available for $199. Both of them offer trial versions so you can use that to make your decisions.

4. File Maker Pro

File Maker Pro is one of the most popular database management programs for Mac. It offers a lot of helpful tools, just like Microsoft’s offering and that is why it is one of the best Microsoft Access alternatives for Mac. It is owned by a subsidiary of Apple so it has nice optimization and design. Although it shares a lot of features with Microsoft Access, it’s also very different from it, the main sticking point being transparency. While Access lets you view underlying tables, File Maker does not let you do that.

The pricing is different for the different numbers of users. You can get an annual subscription or a perpetual license. Check out their prices on their website.

5. MDB ACCDB Viewer

MDB ACCDB Viewer is one of the most powerful database tools for Mac. It supports .mdb as well as the .accdb format. MDB ACCDB Viewer lets you easily view, search and export your data. It also handles large databases with ease. However, while this program can view the data in databases, it cannot display forms or queries. It also cannot modify the database.

You can download MDB ACCDB Viewer for $18.99 from the Mac App Store.

Also Read: RUFUS for Mac

Final Take

That is all there is to know about Microsoft Access for Mac. Hopefully, one of our methods or apps came in handy. If you have any doubts or suggestions, please leave them in the comments section down below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Software developers, data architects and power users have expressed a need to run Microsoft Access on their Mac without partitioning their hard drives or restarting.

Firstly, if you fall into this category, Parallels Desktop for Mac can assist you with developing application software without reformatting or rebooting your machine. As seen below:

Access 2016 in Win10 in Parallels Desktop

Secondly, users can create tables, queries, forms, and reports that connect their projects together with macros. Even more advanced users utilize Visual Basic for apps to write advanced data manipulation and user control solutions.

Here at Parallels, we’re excited whenever our customers share with us the incredible projects they produce and how Parallels Desktop has helped them get work done faster!

Check out how some of our users are using virtualization for Microsoft Access:

Juan Becker of New York – “I was given a Mac when coming onto the team at a new job and as a life-long Microsoft guy I was missing the most important application for my position: Microsoft Access. I needed it and that was the issue but had no idea how to get it on my Mac or if it would even work.

I found Parallels as a solution for running Microsoft Access through the Parallels forums and saw other users had success. There are specific macros such as ActiveX data objects that work within MS Access that I need for my position and Parallels was and is so easy to use, which makes me a user for life. I additionally ended up buying Parallels Access for remotely connecting to my Mac or Windows through my tablet and phone, which allows me to travel for work without my laptop.

That, along with all of the other options and tools that Parallels offers, was a no-brainer, and like I said before, I was instantly sold and will remain a user for life!”

Jason Cooper of Indiana – “I am running a fairly large Microsoft Access database (roughly 60 MB), and as a longtime Boot Camp user, I quickly found myself needing to avoid restarting my machine every time I wanted to switch operating systems in order to speed up my work productivity.

The reputation of Parallels Desktop is what sold me three years ago. The first time I ran one of my queries through Parallels, it processed very quickly, in around five seconds.

I’m the lead webmaster and director of information security for my company, so finding a solution for Microsoft Access was a necessity. Additionally, I plan to do multi-platform software testing for work and found that Microsoft Access runs through Parallels exactly as if I were running it on a PC.”

Nevertheless, Parallels Desktop is an easy and cost-effective solution to run Microsoft Access on your Mac. It provides our customers and their employees with the right tools, which effectively allows our customers to be more productive in a virtual world. Try running Windows programs on your Mac without restarting for 14 days here FREE: Try Now!

Need Microsoft Windows operating system to get started with Microsoft Access? Buy directly below: