accessdb

mdb-export [options] database table
mdb-schema [options] database
mdb-tables database

mdb-export database table
    Exports the specified table from the database to standard output.

mdb-export -I database table
    Exports table with INSERT statements.

mdb-export -d database table
    Specifies a custom delimiter for CSV output.

mdb-schema database
    Outputs the SQL schema for the entire database.

mdb-schema -T table database
    Outputs the SQL schema for a specific table.

mdb-tables database
    Lists all tables in the database.

The `accessdb` command-line utility (part of the `mdbtools` suite) provides a set of tools for interacting with Microsoft Access databases (.mdb files) on Linux systems. It allows users to extract data, schema information, and other metadata from Access databases without requiring a Windows environment or proprietary Microsoft software. Common uses include extracting tables into CSV format for further analysis, inspecting table schemas, and retrieving database statistics.

Specifically, the `mdbtools` package contains several useful command-line tools like `mdb-export` to export tables, `mdb-schema` to extract schema information, and `mdb-tables` to list the tables within an Access database.

Keep in mind that while `mdbtools` offers significant functionality, it doesn't support all Access database features. Complex queries, VBA code, and advanced data types might not be fully supported. Consider the limitations when integrating it into your workflow.

mdbtools might not support all features of modern Access databases (e.g., newer file formats, complex queries, VBA code). Always test on a copy of your database first.

Important: mdbtools primarily targets older Microsoft Access .mdb file formats (primarily Access 97 and Access 2000). Support for newer .accdb formats is limited and may require additional tools or workarounds.

When encountering errors, `mdbtools` might provide limited error messages. It's crucial to check the database's integrity and compatibility before attempting to extract data. Using the latest version of `mdbtools` is always recommended.

The `mdbtools` package is typically available through your distribution's package manager (e.g., `apt-get install mdbtools` on Debian/Ubuntu, `yum install mdbtools` on Fedora/CentOS). Ensure you install the complete `mdbtools` package to have all the utilities available.

The `mdbtools` project started as an effort to provide open-source tools for accessing Microsoft Access databases on non-Windows platforms. The development focused on reverse engineering the .mdb file format and providing command-line utilities for extracting data and schema information. It became useful for data migration, analysis, and interoperability.

csvtool(1), sqlite3(1)