ADP projects are designed to offer improved performance over an MDB linked to SQL Server and a high level of integration between the design tools and a SQL Server database objects.

In order to convert an Access ACCDB/MDB to an ADP you need to use MUST+SQL to upsize your database design, data and then convert all your queries to views and stored procedures. Then create a new ADP which is linked to the SQL Server database, and import all your existing forms and reports into the ADP.

In Access 2007, creating an ADP is not on the main menus, but if you create a new database with an ADP file extension it will automatically recognise what you are doing and prompt to connect to a SQL Server.

Existing Database Code

If you already have a big investment in DAO code in your Access database, then once you have converted it to an ADP you will need to redesign the code to use ADO.

Do ADP’s have a future?

The following link indicates that Microsoft is starting to think about possibly enhancing ADP’s in Access 15 (http://blogs.msdn.com/access/archive/2009/12/03/access-15-and-sql-server.aspx)

Microsoft also indicate that you should not attempt to use Access 2007 or earlier versions with ADP’s connected to SQL Server 2008 if you rely on the design features in an ADP (http://blogs.msdn.com/access/archive/2009/01/21/adp-s-and-sql-server-2008.aspx/a>)