Export MS Access tables through VBA to an excel spreadsheet in same directory

calendar_today Asked Dec 4, 2009
thumb_up 26 upvotes
history Updated April 16, 2026

Question posted 2009 · +10 upvotes

I have two tables in my access database that I want to be able to export to excel.

I can do it by opening the table and then doing File->Export… and then choosing the format and typing in the file name.

However, this way the user actually has to type the name in so there is room for misnaming the file or for saving it as the wrong format or in the wrong location. Also, the two tables have to be exported to two separate workbooks.

What I want to be able to do is make a button on a form that automatically exports one table to one worksheet and the other to another worksheet, both in the same excel workbook.

If putting them in the same workbook isn’t possible, that’s fine. I just want them to automatically be exported to the same directory my access database is saved in.

If you know how to do it, an added perk might be to customize the name to include the date. That way the directory would have historical exports as well. Any advice?

Accepted answer +26 upvotes

You can use VBA to export an Access database table as a Worksheet in an Excel Workbook.

To obtain the path of the Access database, use the CurrentProject.Path property.

To name the Excel Workbook file with the current date, use the Format(Date, "yyyyMMdd") method.

Finally, to export the table as a Worksheet, use the DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet method.

Example:

Dim outputFileName As String
outputFileName = CurrentProject.Path & "Export_" & Format(Date, "yyyyMMdd") & ".xls"
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acExport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, "Table1", outputFileName , True
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acExport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, "Table2", outputFileName , True

This will output both Table1 and Table2 into the same Workbook.

HTH

VBA Core objects referenced (5)

  • DoCmd — Macro actions and methods of the DoCmd object
  • Workbook — Workbooks and Worksheets
  • Workbook — Add a Table of Contents to a Workbook
  • Worksheet — Refer to All the Cells on the Worksheet
  • Worksheet — List of worksheet functions available to Visual Basic

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