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Most of the time, you’ll import data that’s in one of these five common formats:

• Access. When you use this option, you aren’t performing a conversion. Instead, you’re taking a database object from another Access database file, and copying it into the current database.

• Excel. Pulls the data from an Excel spreadsheet.

• SharePoint List. Pulls the data from a list that’s hosted on a SharePoint server (which big companies use to help workers collaborate). You don’t need to import SharePoint information in order to work with it. You can also edit SharePoint lists directly in Access. Access 2007: The Missing Manual has much more about getting Access and SharePoint to work together.

• Text File. Pulls the data out of a plain text file. Typically, plain text files use some sort of character (like a comma) to separate field values. This universally understood format’s supported by many programs, including just about every piece of spreadsheet software ever written. When using this option, Access takes a look at the text file as it tries to figure out how it’s organized. However, you get the chance to confirm or correct the hunch before you import any data, as described in Section 10.3.4.

• XML File. Pulls the data out of a structured XML file. XML is a cross-platform format used to represent any type of information.

Using the More button, you’ll find several other, more exotic import choices:

• ODBC Database. Grabs information from just about any database product, provided it has an ODBC driver. This option works particularly well if you need to get data out of a high-end server-side database like Oracle, SQL Server, or MySQL.

• HTML Document. Extracts information from a list or a table in an HTML Web page. Since HTML’s a standard that’s notoriously loose (and at times downright sloppy), you should try to avoid this option. You’re likely to have importing problems.

• Outlook Folder. Pulls information out of a folder in Outlook or Outlook Express.

• dBase File, Paradox File, and Lotus 1-2-3 File. Pulls information out of a file cre-ated with one of these Paleolithic programs.

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