To compare two Access database schemas:

• Open Object Compare, and select File -> Select Left Side from the main menu.
• If the Access database file (*.mdb) resides on the local machine, or is reachable using a mapped drive to a remote machine, in the Select Left Side dialog, expand the Desktop -> My Computer objects.
• If the database file resides on a remote machine, and is reachable from a shared resource from the remote machine, in the Select Left Side dialog, expand the Desktop -> My Network Places objects (Note: the network resources name varies depending on the version of Windows you are using).
• Locate the database file by navigating through the file system or shared resources objects and select the OK button.
• On the main menu, select File -> Select Right Side.
• Repeat the steps for locating an Access database file outlined above using the Select Right Side dialog.
• To start the comparison, select File -> Start Comparison from the main menu.

To compare two password protected Access database schemas:

To compare password protected Access database files, you must use the Microsoft Data Link Properties dialog to setup connection objects containing the required passwords. See the section How to: Setup database schema connections for instructions on creating connection objects.

Once the relevant connection objects have been created, do the following:

• Open Object Compare, and select File -> Select Left Side from the main menu.
• In the Select Left Side dialog, expand the Desktop -> My Computer -> Database Schemas objects.
• A list of configured database connection objects is grouped under the Database Schemas object. Select the Access database connection object of interest and select the OK button.
• On the main menu, select File -> Select Right Side.
• Repeat the steps for locating a database schema object outlined above using the Select Right Side dialog.
• To start the comparison, select File -> Start Comparison from the main menu.