> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://nolongerset.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Let's Make Access More Version-Control Friendly - URL: https://nolongerset.com/version-control-friendly-access-request/ - Published: 2021-11-12T23:33:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-08T12:37:34.000Z - Description: Hey! Wouldn't it be great if Access was version-control friendly out of the box? If you agree, head over to the Access feedback portal and vote for my request. - Author: Mike Wolfe - Tags: Commentary, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59 Hello friends. I'd like your help. I am passionate about [version control and Microsoft Access](https://nolongerset.com/tag/version-control/). I have developed a rather [extensive script](https://nolongerset.com/putting-it-all-together/) to break down an Access front-end application file into individual version-control friendly text files. I have recommended an [open-source project](https://nolongerset.com/instant-version-control/) that lets you get started quickly with version control in Access. But you know what I would really love? I would love it if all the hard work I put in to creating my Access version control script was rendered meaningless because the Microsoft Access team added *official support* for making Access more version control friendly. ## The Big Ask If you agree with me that Access would benefit from this capability, then please head over to the [Microsoft Access Feedback Portal](https://nolongerset.com/access-feature-requests/) and vote for [my request](https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cd884452-6343-ec11-a81a-6045bd78d291). If you disagree with me, then–um–forget what I just said about that whole Feedback Portal thing... In case you want to read the request before you go vote for it, I'll reproduce it here: --- #### Make Access version control-friendly As a single binary file, front-end Microsoft Access applications are a poor fit for modern version control systems like Git. Many developers (myself included: ) have created scripts that use the undocumented *SaveAsText* and *LoadFromText* methods to split the single binary front-end file into individual text files that are better suited for version control. Please add support for two new command-line flags, `/decompose` and `/compose`. - `msaccess.exe "C:\My\Existing\AccessApp.accdb" /decompose "C:\Path\To\Folder"` - `msaccess.exe "C:\Path\To\File\That\Does\Not\Exist.accdb" /compose "C:\Path\To\Folder"` The first command–**decompose**–would split the database into a series of text files for inclusion in a version control system. The second command–**compose–**would reassemble the text files into a new Access file. This would let developers clone a Git repository and recreate the original Access file on a new computer. Supporting this feature would: - Encourage software development best practices - Make it easier for teams to develop Access applications - Simplify remote work scenarios for developers - Mitigate front-end corruption risk - Provide more robust backup and restore capabilities - Reduce change management risk - Make it easier to document large projects --- OK, now that you've had a chance to actually read my request, please vote for it: **[Make Access version control-friendly](https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a310c674-a9cd-ed11-a7c6-000d3a1f8608)**. Also, hit up the comments below to let me know how *you* would make Access more version-control friendly: - What do you agree with in my request? - What do you disagree with? - What's important? - What's not important but still nice to have? - What did I leave out? - How would you do make Access more version-control friendly if you were Microsoft *AND* had no time or budget constraints? ***UPDATE*** *\[2023-12-20\]: Microsoft unceremoniously deleted my [original feature request](https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cd884452-6343-ec11-a81a-6045bd78d291) (which, at the time, was the top vote getter by a wide margin). They've since [recreated the feature request](https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a310c674-a9cd-ed11-a7c6-000d3a1f8608), apparently using the visible introductory text which was captured in my screenshot of my [How to Make Feature Requests](https://nolongerset.com/access-feature-requests/) article. Unfortunately, it's now barely in the top 10 of feature requests.* ### Referenced articles [Version Control - No Longer SetAdvanced techniques and unique perspectives from a guy who pushes the limits of Microsoft Access software development. Warning: may contain strong opinions.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2020/08/access-2348384_1920_background-3.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/tag/version-control/) [Putting It All TogetherI expanded on the original decompose.vbs script. The code below is the culmination of more than 50 individual changes and tweaks over 10+ years.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2020/09/puzzle-210785_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/putting-it-all-together/) [A Quick, Free Way to Try Version Control with Microsoft AccessCurious about getting started with version control in Microsoft Access, but don’t want to commit a lot of time or money? This could be just the solution for you.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/07/Instant-Version-Control-1-.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/instant-version-control/) *Image by [Dean Moriarty](https://pixabay.com/users/terimakasih0-624267/?utm%5Fsource=link-attribution&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=image&utm%5Fcontent=2341784) from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/?utm%5Fsource=link-attribution&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=image&utm%5Fcontent=2341784)*