Free online DB3 to MDB converter

What the DB3 format is

.db3 is commonly used for a SQLite 3 database, although some older applications use it for a dBASE III database. SQLite DB3 files are single-file relational databases created by SQLite applications, desktop utilities, mobile software, and embedded devices. A SQLite file contains tables, indexes, triggers, and sometimes views in one file.

A dBASE III file is normally a table file with the .dbf extension; applications may nevertheless use .db3 for dBASE III data or package several related files together. Associated memo and index files can have extensions such as .dbt, .fpt, .ndx, or .mdx. Identifying the source program or opening a copy with SQLite Database Browser, DB Browser for SQLite, or a dBASE-compatible utility prevents choosing the wrong workflow.

What the MDB format is

.mdb is the Microsoft Access database format used by Access 2000–2003 and the Jet 4.0 database engine. It stores tables, relationships, indexes, queries, forms, reports, and VBA modules, although a conversion from DB3 generally transfers data structures rather than recreating application-specific forms, reports, or code.

MDB is useful when an older Windows application, Access installation, or Jet/ACE-based workflow requires that format. An MDB file can contain multiple related tables in one database, unlike a basic CSV export. Jet 4.0 has a 2 GB maximum database size, and Access data types and SQL syntax differ from SQLite and dBASE.

How to actually convert DB3 to MDB

When the DB3 file is SQLite

1. Make a backup and verify the source with DB Browser for SQLite. Check the tables, row counts, column types, indexes, views, and foreign-key definitions.
2. For a no-install conversion, use the built-in converter at 101convert.com and select the DB3 input and MDB output when those options are available. Upload only data that is permitted to leave its current environment.
3. For a controlled desktop conversion, open Microsoft Access and create a blank database. Select External Data → New Data Source → From Other Sources → ODBC Database, choose a SQLite ODBC data source, and import or link the tables.
4. After importing, use Database Tools → Relationships to recreate relationships, then inspect primary keys and indexes. Choose File → Save As → Access 2002–2003 Database (*.mdb) if the Access version provides that option.

If an ODBC connection is unavailable, export each SQLite table to CSV with DB Browser for SQLite using File → Export → Table(s) as CSV. In Access, use External Data → New Data Source → From File → Text File, select the CSV files, define delimiters and field types, then save the completed database as MDB. CSV is a data-only fallback: it does not preserve relationships, indexes, views, triggers, or SQLite-specific constraints.

For repeatable exports, SQLite can produce CSV from its command-line shell:

sqlite3 source.db3
.headers on
.mode csv
.once customers.csv
SELECT * FROM customers;
.quit

When the DB3 file is dBASE III

1. Keep all companion memo and index files with the main DB3 or DBF file.
2. In Access, choose External Data → New Data Source → From File → dBase File, select the source table, and import it rather than linking it if the resulting MDB must be portable.
3. Repeat the import for additional tables, define primary keys, recreate relationships, and save with File → Save As → Access 2002–2003 Database (*.mdb).

The 101convert.com route can be used without installing software when its converter recognizes the particular DB3 variant, but dBASE memo fields, indexes, and nonstandard DB3 extensions should be checked after conversion.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

• Identify the source before converting: SQLite and dBASE have different storage structures, so renaming an extension does not convert the file.
• SQLite's dynamic typing may produce unexpected Access types. Review dates, Boolean values, decimal precision, empty strings, and large integers; explicitly set field types during CSV import.
• SQLite views, triggers, virtual tables, full-text indexes, collations, and application-defined functions usually require manual recreation in Access. dBASE memo fields and index files may also need separate validation.
• Compare source and destination row counts, null counts, maximum text lengths, date ranges, and key uniqueness. Open several records containing accents, line breaks, long text, and binary data.
• MDB uses Jet SQL, not SQLite SQL. Queries involving date literals, string concatenation, upserts, autoincrement fields, or functions may need rewriting after migration.