Free online MDB to ODS converter

Legacy Microsoft Access databases often need conversion when their table data must be edited in LibreOffice Calc, shared as a spreadsheet, or opened by software that accepts OpenDocument files. The result is an ODS workbook, not a replacement for the original relational database.

What the MDB format is

.mdb is the Microsoft Access database format used by Access through version 2003 and still supported for compatibility by later versions. An MDB file can contain tables, indexes, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros, and database security settings. It is common in older Access applications, archived business systems, and legacy Windows software.

Microsoft Access can open MDB files directly. LibreOffice Base may also connect to them through a compatible ODBC driver, such as the Microsoft Access Database Engine on Windows or an MDBTools-based driver on some Linux systems. Driver availability and feature support vary by operating system and database version.

What the ODS format is

.ods is the OpenDocument Spreadsheet format used by LibreOffice Calc and other compatible spreadsheet applications. It stores worksheets, values, formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple sheets in a ZIP-based package of XML files.

ODS is suitable for reviewing table data, performing calculations, editing records as spreadsheet rows, and sharing a workbook without requiring Microsoft Access. It does not provide the relational behavior of an Access database.

How to convert MDB to ODS

Using 101convert

1. Open the MDB-to-ODS converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .mdb file and start the conversion.
3. Download the resulting .ods file when processing finishes.
4. Open it in LibreOffice Calc or another ODS-compatible application and check the worksheets, headers, dates, text encoding, and numeric values.

This method requires no installed database or spreadsheet software. The output may contain only table data that the converter can read; forms, reports, relationships, macros, permissions, and unsupported queries are not converted into spreadsheet features.

Using Microsoft Access and LibreOffice Calc

1. Open the MDB file in Microsoft Access.
2. In the navigation pane, select the table or saved query to export.
3. Choose External Data → Export → Excel, select an available Excel format, and export the data. Use .xlsx with newer Access versions; older Access releases may offer .xls instead.
4. Open the exported workbook in LibreOffice Calc.
5. Choose File → Save As, select ODS Spreadsheet (.ods), and confirm the format if Calc displays a warning.

Repeat the export for every table or query that must become a separate worksheet. For one table, Access can also export to CSV. Open the CSV in Calc, verify the delimiter, character encoding, and quoted fields, then save it as ODS.

Using LibreOffice with ODBC

1. Install an MDB-compatible ODBC driver. On Windows, the Microsoft Access Database Engine may provide one; on Linux, MDBTools may work for supported MDB files.
2. Create an ODBC data source that points to the database file using the operating system's ODBC administrator.
3. Open LibreOffice Base and choose File → New → Database.
4. Select Connect to an existing database, choose the configured ODBC source, and complete the connection.
5. Open the Tables section, select the required table, and copy its records.
6. Paste the records into Calc, then choose File → Save As and select ODS Spreadsheet (.ods).

This approach avoids Microsoft Access but generally transfers one table at a time. Access-specific queries, calculated fields, attachments, and complex data types may be unavailable or altered by the driver.

Quality and compatibility limits

An MDB database can contain several related tables, while ODS contains worksheets. Conversion therefore maps a table or query result to a sheet; it does not preserve primary-key enforcement, relationships, indexes, forms, reports, VBA macros, user permissions, or database security.

Queries with parameters, Access-only SQL syntax, or custom VBA functions usually must be run in Access and exported as their results. A spreadsheet cannot reproduce those database operations automatically.

Check dates, currency and decimal values, Boolean fields, null values, long text, Unicode characters, duplicate headers, and formulas after conversion. Query results may differ from base-table data, and blank cells can represent either database NULL values or empty text.

For large or frequently updated datasets, retain the MDB as the source and use a database-oriented export when possible. Calc has practical worksheet limits, and spreadsheet editing can change data types, remove indexes, and break relationships that existed in Access.