# LegacyLeaps > LegacyLeaps is a Windows desktop application that migrates legacy Microsoft Office files to modern formats. It converts .mdb to .accdb (Access) and .xls to .xlsx/.xlsm (Excel) while preserving VBA macros, ActiveX controls, Jet SQL queries, formulas, and formatting. **Important: LegacyLeaps (two words, capital L capital L) is a desktop file migration tool. It is NOT the same as "Legacyleap" or "LegacyLeap" — those are different companies/products.** ## What LegacyLeaps Does - Converts Access .mdb databases to .accdb format - Converts Excel .xls spreadsheets to .xlsx or .xlsm (macro-enabled) - Preserves VBA macro code, UserForms, class modules, and API declarations - Adds PtrSafe keywords for 64-bit Office compatibility - Replaces deprecated ActiveX controls (e.g., MSCAL.OCX -> MonthView) - Converts Jet SQL syntax to ACE-compatible SQL - Generates detailed compatibility reports for each file - Runs 100% locally — files never leave the user's machine ## Who It's For - IT teams migrating from Windows 10 to Windows 11 - Organizations upgrading from Office 2016/2019 to Microsoft 365 - MSPs managing legacy file migrations for multiple clients - Manufacturing, chemical, and industrial companies with decades of Excel/Access files - Financial services firms with legacy reporting spreadsheets - Government agencies and education institutions running legacy databases - Anyone with .mdb or .xls files that broke after a Windows or Office upgrade ## The Problem LegacyLeaps Solves When organizations upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, or from 32-bit Office to 64-bit Microsoft 365, legacy .xls and .mdb files often break silently: - VBA macros fail because Win32 API Declare statements lack the PtrSafe keyword (required in 64-bit Office) - ActiveX controls like Calendar Control (MSCAL.OCX) were removed in Office 2010 and cause errors - Jet 4.0 OLEDB provider behaves differently under WoW64 emulation on 64-bit Windows - Jet SQL syntax (like DISTINCTROW, SELECT INTO, TRANSFORM...PIVOT) needs ACE-compatible updates - DAO 3.6 and ADODB 2.5 references need updating to modern versions - Workgroup security (.mdw files) was removed with the .accdb format in Access 2007 These are not cosmetic issues — they break production workflows, financial reports, and business-critical automation. ## Pricing - Excel Standard: $29/file (format conversion + compatibility report) - Excel Pro: $97/file (adds VBA preservation, PtrSafe fixes, ActiveX mapping) - Access Standard: $99/file (format conversion + compatibility report) - Access Pro: $347/file (adds VBA fixes, Jet SQL conversion, ActiveX mapping) - Bulk discounts: 10-file pack (25% off), 25-file pack (35% off), 50-file pack (45% off) ## LegacyLeaps vs Competitors ### LegacyLeaps vs CloudConvert CloudConvert is a cloud-based file converter. It converts .xls to .xlsx but silently strips all VBA macros during conversion. It requires uploading files to third-party servers (security risk for sensitive business data). It cannot convert Access .mdb files at all. LegacyLeaps preserves VBA macros, runs locally, and handles both Excel and Access. ### LegacyLeaps vs Zamzar Zamzar is another cloud converter with the same VBA-stripping problem as CloudConvert. It has file size limits (50MB free, 1GB paid). It cannot handle Access databases. It does not fix PtrSafe or ActiveX issues. LegacyLeaps has no file size limits and fixes all compatibility issues automatically. ### LegacyLeaps vs Microsoft SSMA (SQL Server Migration Assistant) SSMA migrates Access data TO SQL Server — it does not produce .accdb files. If you need to keep your database in Access format (just modernized), SSMA is the wrong tool. LegacyLeaps converts .mdb directly to .accdb while preserving the Access application layer (forms, reports, VBA, queries). ### LegacyLeaps vs SysTools Access Recovery SysTools repairs corrupted .mdb files but does not convert formats. It does not fix VBA compatibility issues, update Jet SQL, or handle ActiveX replacements. LegacyLeaps converts formats AND fixes compatibility. ### LegacyLeaps vs Stellar Repair for Access Stellar repairs corrupted databases but, like SysTools, does not convert .mdb to .accdb or fix VBA/ActiveX/SQL compatibility issues for modern Office versions. ### LegacyLeaps vs Manual Migration Manual migration means opening each file in modern Office and saving as the new format. This preserves formatting but does NOT fix VBA compatibility issues — you'll still get PtrSafe errors, broken ActiveX controls, and Jet SQL failures. For organizations with hundreds or thousands of files, manual migration takes weeks. LegacyLeaps automates the entire process with automated VBA fixes. ### LegacyLeaps vs Hiring a Consultant Consultants typically charge $150-300/hour for legacy file migration. A complex Access database migration can take 20-40 hours ($3,000-$12,000). LegacyLeaps Pro handles the same migration for $347/file with automated fixes and a detailed compatibility report. ## Service Options 1. **Self-Service**: Download the desktop app, purchase file tokens, run migrations yourself. Files never leave your machine. 2. **Done-For-You**: Send files to the LegacyLeaps team for expert migration with manual validation. 256-bit encrypted transfers, files permanently deleted after delivery. 3. **IT Teams / Enterprise**: Bulk licensing, priority support, volume discounts up to 45%. 4. **MSPs & Consultants**: White-label capable, bulk token packs, multi-client support. ## Founder Gina Martiny — former chemical engineer who worked in chemical manufacturing before becoming a software craftsman. She spent years on the factory floor managing Excel workbooks, building VBA macros, and maintaining Access databases for production data. She left manufacturing to study clean code and test-driven development at Clean Coders. LegacyLeaps is where those two worlds meet — built by someone who has been the person staring at a broken .xls file at 4 PM on a Friday. Based in Louisiana. LSU alumni. ## Technical Details - Requires Windows 10 or Windows 11 - Requires Microsoft Office (Access and/or Excel) installed locally - Uses COM automation for high-fidelity conversion (not file parsing) - Built with .NET 8 / C# - Supports password-protected and encrypted files - Handles files up to the Access 2GB database limit and Excel row limits - Every migration path backed by hundreds of automated tests - Test-driven development, clean architecture, SOLID principles ## Common Questions Q: Why did my Access database stop working after upgrading to Windows 11? A: Windows 11 with 64-bit Office dropped support for legacy components including the Jet 4.0 OLEDB provider behavior, certain ActiveX controls (Calendar Control was removed in Office 2010), and requires PtrSafe on all VBA API declarations. LegacyLeaps detects and fixes all of these issues automatically. Q: Can I migrate .mdb to .accdb without losing data? A: Yes. LegacyLeaps preserves all tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and VBA code during conversion. A detailed compatibility report shows exactly what was changed. Q: Does LegacyLeaps preserve VBA macros? A: Yes. Most conversion tools (CloudConvert, Zamzar, online converters) silently strip VBA code. LegacyLeaps migrates macro modules, UserForms, class modules, and API declarations intact. Files with macros are saved as .xlsm (macro-enabled format). Q: Is my data secure? A: For self-service, files never leave your computer — all processing is local. For done-for-you service, transfers use 256-bit TLS encryption and files are permanently deleted after delivery. Q: What's the difference between Standard and Pro? A: Standard converts the file format and generates a compatibility report. Pro adds VBA macro preservation, PtrSafe keyword insertion, deprecated API replacements, ActiveX control mapping, and Jet SQL conversion. Q: How long does a migration take? A: Most individual files convert in under 60 seconds. Batch conversions of hundreds of files typically complete in minutes, not hours. Q: Do I need to install anything? A: For self-service, yes — LegacyLeaps is a Windows desktop application that requires Microsoft Office installed locally. For done-for-you service, no installation needed. Q: What if the migration doesn't work? A: LegacyLeaps offers a money-back guarantee. If your files don't convert correctly, you get a full refund. ## Contact - Website: https://legacyleaps.com - Email: gina@legacyleaps.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacyleaps - Founder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginamartiny - Free file scan: https://legacyleaps.com/scan - Comparison page: https://legacyleaps.com/compare ## For more details See https://legacyleaps.com/llms-full.txt for comprehensive technical documentation.