Importing data from Firebird or Interbase databases into Excel does not require complex coding or expensive software. You can connect Excel directly to your database to pull multiple tables quickly. This guide covers the two most efficient methods to automate this process. Method 1: Using Excel Power Query (Recommended)
Power Query is built into modern versions of Excel. It provides the cleanest way to import, transform, and refresh multiple tables simultaneously. 1. Install the ODBC Driver
Excel needs a bridge to communicate with Firebird/Interbase. Download the official Firebird ODBC Driver. Run the installer and complete the setup. Open ODBC Data Source Administrator in Windows.
Add a new System DSN, select the Firebird driver, and link it to your database file (.fdb or .gdb). 2. Connect Excel to the Database Open a blank workbook in Excel. Navigate to the Data tab on the top ribbon. Click Get Data > From Other Sources > From ODBC.
Select the DSN name you created in the dropdown menu and click OK. 3. Select and Load Multiple Tables A Navigator window will open showing all database tables. Check the box for Select multiple items at the top.
Select the checkboxes next to all the tables you want to import.
Click Load to drop each table into its own worksheet, or click Transform Data to filter the rows before importing.
Method 2: Using a Third-Party Tool (DbVisualizer or DBeaver)
If you prefer a visual database manager to export directly into an Excel workbook, free tools like DBeaver make it simple. 1. Connect to your Database Open DBeaver and choose New Connection. Select Firebird or Interbase from the list.
Browse to your database file, enter your username (default is usually SYSDBA), and enter your password. 2. Export Multiple Tables
In the database navigator, hold Ctrl and click all the tables you want to export. Right-click the highlighted tables and select Export Data. Choose Database Table(s) or CSV/Excel as the target format. Select XLSX as the output format.
Configure the settings to output all tables into a single file as separate sheets, then click Finish. Keeping Your Data Updated
The biggest advantage of the Power Query method (Method 1) is data synchronization. When your Firebird or Interbase database updates, you do not need to repeat the import process.
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