Working with older Excel (*.xls) or Access files (*.mdb)

Using Analytics to import from, or export to, older Excel (*.xls) or Access files (*.mdb) requires some additional configuration, or some additional steps, depending on which version of Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365) you have installed on your computer (32-bit or 64-bit).

Background

Prior to version 19 of Analytics, Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 (ADE 2016) was installed as part of the Analytics installation – originally by default, and then made optional in more recent versions of Analytics.

ADE 2016 and the underlying technology (ADO) provided import and export connectivity with older Excel and Access files. However, Microsoft ended support for ADE 2016 in October of 2025. Following security best practices, Diligent removed ADE 2016 from Analytics 19 to prevent a possible future security vulnerability.

If you installed ADE 2016 as part of a previous installation of Analytics, import and export connectivity with older Excel and Access files continues to work in Analytics 19 or previous versions. However, your IT department may require removal of ADE 2016 from your computer as a potential security vulnerability. If removal is required, import and export connectivity with older Excel and Access files will stop working in all installed versions of Analytics. You will need to move to one of the new methods of working with older Excel or Access files, outlined below.

Identify the bitness of your version of Microsoft Office

Before you proceed, you need to know which version of Microsoft Office is installed on your computer: 32-bit or 64-bit. Depending on the bitness of Office, the method for working with older Excel and Access files differs.

  1. Open any Office application, such as Excel or Word.

  2. Select Account, or File > Account.

  3. Under Product Information, select About Office_application (for example, About Excel).

  4. In the dialog box that opens, the bitness appears at the end of the product version information (32-bit or 64-bit).

Method to use if Office 32-bit installed

If Office 32-bit is installed on your computer, you can use the Microsoft 365 Access Runtime (32-bit) as a replacement for Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 (ADE 2016).

Analytics is 32-bit so it can work with the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 Access Runtime.

Uninstall ADE 2016 from your computer

If ADE 2016 is installed on your computer, you must remove it.

Note

If other applications on your computer use ADE 2016 as an internal component, uninstalling it may affect their functioning. ADE 2016 is no longer supported for anyone, so other applications that have been bundling it should also have new versions that do not include it.

  1. Open Control Panel and select Uninstall a program.

  2. Locate Microsoft Access database engine 2016 (or 2010) in the list of programs and select it.

  3. Select Uninstall and select Yes in the confirmation dialog box.

Download and install Microsoft 365 Access Runtime (32-bit)

  1. Go to the official Microsoft support page Download and install Microsoft 365 Access Runtime.

  2. Select the appropriate language.

  3. Select 32-bit Download.

    Caution

    Do not download the 64-bit version, which will not work correctly on a computer where Office 32-bit is installed.

  4. Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator.

  5. Follow the installation wizard to complete the installation.

  6. Restart your computer if prompted.

Verify the installation is working correctly

Open Analytics and perform one or more of the following tasks to verify that the installation of Microsoft 365 Access Runtime is working correctly with Analytics.

  • Import an older Excel (*.xls) or Access file (*.mdb).

    For more information, see Import Microsoft Excel data or Import a Microsoft Access database file.

    Tip

    You can import one of the sample *.xls or *.mdb files contained in the Sample Data Files folder. Default location: C:\Users\user_account\Documents\ACL Data\Sample Data Files.

  • Export an Analytics table to an older Excel (*.xls) or Access file (*.mdb).

    For more information, see Exporting data.

Method to use if Office 64-bit installed

If Office 64-bit is installed on your computer, you cannot use the Microsoft 365 Access Runtime as a replacement for Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016. An incompatibility exists: Analytics is 32-bit and only works with the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 Access Runtime, which cannot be installed side-by-side on a computer with Office 64-bit.

On a computer with Office 64-bit installed, the following options exist for using Analytics to work with older Excel or Access files.

Task Option
Import an older Excel file (*.xls)

Option 1

Use the Data Access window with the Windows DSN connector for Excel.

For more information, see Working with the Data Access window.

Option 2

  1. In Excel, save the *.xls file as a *.xlsx file.

  2. Import the *.xlsx file to Analytics.
Export an Analytics table to an older Excel file (*.xls)

  1. Export the Analytics table to a *.xlsx file or a *.del file.

  2. Open the file in Excel and save it as a *.xls file.
Import an older Access file (*.mdb)

Option 1

Use the Data Access window with the Windows DSN connector for Access.

For more information, see Working with the Data Access window.

Option 2

  1. In Access, export the *.mdb file to a *.xlsx file.

  2. Import the *.xlsx file to Analytics.
Export an Analytics table to an older Access file (*.mdb)

  1. Export the Analytics table to a *.xlsx file.

  2. Create an blank database in Access with a *.mdb file extension.

  3. Import the *.xlsx file to the blank database.