MS Access 2016 on Ubuntu
MS Access 2016 on Ubuntu
I'm checking if it's feasible to handle .accdb files created with MS Access 2016 on an Ubuntu system. Right now I'm using a MacBook Air from 2011, but Apple has switched to Windows 10 which isn't very reliable on that device and runs in legacy BIOS with slow boot times. I'm thinking about switching to Ubuntu because it supports EFI mode and should offer more stability than running Windows 10 with outdated drivers. At school we're still using MS Access 2016, so I wanted your advice for a more stable setup. I was considering Wine but am concerned it might not work well with some Windows applications. I've also noticed it can cause issues on my machine. My hardware is modest—2GB RAM, i5-2557M processor, 64GB SSD. A virtual machine might not be the best option either.
But it would still operate in emulated legacy BIOS mode, which means my SSD needs to run in IDE mode, slowing things down and increasing boot times since legacy BIOS performs extra checks like RAM verification and PCI device tests. With Windows 10 this is exactly what I’m seeing now. Also, I don’t have a legal copy of Windows 7, so I want to make the most of my system.
Hi @WindowsXP16 The quick solution: Microsoft Office isn’t compatible with Ubuntu or any Linux distribution in this case. However, alternatives like OpenOffice and LibreOffice are available. I tend to use LibreOffice personally. It may take some getting used to, but I no longer miss Microsoft Office. Both should support opening common formats such as DOC, DOCX, and Access files. Edit: It won’t work with Wine either. Office has built-in checks to ensure it runs on Windows, and Wine can’t bypass those protections. The installer will likely fail with an error requiring Windows XP or newer.
I understand your perspective, but I must strongly disagree with @Jarno. It's feasible to use MS Office within WINE. I've run Office 2013 on a standard WineHQ build and 2016 Pro Plus on CrossOver (with some challenges). When considering your choices, 2013 should work smoothly on Wine 3.0 from the Ubuntu repository on WineHQ. However, you might encounter problems with 2016. If you're open to testing for a short period—possibly by downloading a trial or purchasing the subscription—you could explore Crossover by Codeweavers. Just install it, select Office 2016, and their enhanced WINE version will handle the installation automatically, adding .desktop files to your applications folder once set up. This approach might offer a more reliable path.
Office 2013 on Wine is generally considered to be less reliable compared to native versions. Many users have reported issues and encountered problems with it.
It performs fairly well. Based on my experience, you must add `msxml6` in Winetricks and OneNote fails because of a 'Desktop Experience' requirement. Also, make sure you have a phone or your activation key since internet activation didn't work in 2013 or 2016.