mdb-to-sqlite

Convert Microsoft Access .mdb files into SQLite databases with a single command.

mdb-to-sqlite is a lightweight CLI built for developers migrating legacy Access systems to modern stacks. It runs with pure Node.js and does not require Microsoft Access, ODBC drivers, or OS-level tools.

Quick Start

npx mdb-to-sqlite ./path/to/database.mdb

This creates ./path/to/database.sqlite in the same directory as the input file.

Why this tool

• Simple CLI workflow: run one command and get a .sqlite file
• Cross-platform: works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (with Node.js)
• No system dependencies: no mdb-tools, no Java, no Access installation
• Migration-friendly output: clear progress and final conversion summary

Features

• Reads .mdb files (Access 97-2003)
• Exports all tables found in the source file
• Creates output .sqlite in the same directory with the same base name
• Converts common Access value types into SQLite-compatible values
• Returns explicit process exit codes for automation and CI pipelines

Installation

Run directly with npx (recommended)

npx mdb-to-sqlite ./path/to/database.mdb

Install globally

npm install -g mdb-to-sqlite
mdb-to-sqlite ./path/to/database.mdb

Install as a project dependency

npm install mdb-to-sqlite
npx mdb-to-sqlite ./path/to/database.mdb

Requirements

• Node.js >=16

Usage

npx mdb-to-sqlite <path-to-file.mdb>

Example:

npx mdb-to-sqlite ./data/database.mdb

Output file:

• Input: ./data/database.mdb
• Output: ./data/database.sqlite

Example CLI output

🚀 MDB → SQLite Converter
📥 Source → /path/to/database.mdb
📤 Output → /path/to/database.sqlite

📚 Tables found: 3
  ✓ "products"  25 rows • 11 columns
  ✓ "customers" 38 rows • 3 columns
  ✓ "orders"    14 rows • 9 columns

✅ Conversion completed successfully
  Tables → 3 converted
  Rows   → 77
  Size   → 16.0 KB
  File   → /path/to/database.sqlite

Exit codes

• 0 - Conversion completed successfully
• 1 - Invalid arguments, file not found, or unsupported extension
• 2 - Error while reading the .mdb file
• 3 - Error while writing the .sqlite file

Error messages

No argument:

Usage: mdb-to-sqlite <path-to-file.mdb>

File not found:

Error: File not found: ./does-not-exist.mdb

Unsupported extension:

Error: Only .mdb files are supported in the current version.

Type handling

The converter normalizes common Access values for SQLite storage:

• Text/Memo -> TEXT
• Integer/Long Integer/Byte -> INTEGER
• Single/Double/Currency -> REAL
• Boolean -> INTEGER (0/1)
• Date/Time -> ISO-8601 TEXT
• null/undefined -> NULL

Known limitations (v1.0)

• .accdb is not supported
• Table filtering is not available (all tables are exported)
• Custom output path is not available
• Access queries, forms, and macros are not migrated
• OLE/image embedded fields are not explicitly supported

Roadmap

Planned improvements for future versions:

• .accdb support
• --output <path> option
• --tables <t1,t2> selection support
• --dry-run mode
• --verbose detailed logs
• Alternative exports (JSON/CSV)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. If you want to help:

1. Open an issue describing the problem or feature request
2. Fork the repository and create a focused branch
3. Add tests or reproduction steps when possible
4. Open a pull request with a clear description of the change

License

MIT