This is not really a tech support question, but more of a debate/discussion starter about the differences between Access and mysql. Over the past few months I have learned a lot about Access and I also know a "little" about web design and mysql (not nearly as much as I do about Access though). I don't understand how mostly everybody I talk to about this agrees that mysql is far better than Access and I should give up on all my access projects and switch everything to mysql. Maybe my limited knowledge in mysql is the reason for not understanding why, but I cant see how that is the case.
1. I can understand that maybe mysql is faster and can hold more information, but none of my current uses will ever need the speed and storage of 1,000,000+ records.
2. My other reason for not agreeing with the general population on this debate is for the general ease of designing an Access database. It has a very neat graphical interface where you can create queries with a few clicks, design forms graphically on screen to look whatever way you please, create reports, navigate so easily through records and have them returned to you in the graphical manor you like.
3. To my understanding with a mysql database, the user that wants to add, view, or manipulate data/records needs to be fluent in the SQL language and type out long complex "select" statements each time they want to retrieve data, and then on top of that, the data is returned in a spreadsheet type format, as opposed to a easily readable form as Access does.
4. How to access the mysql database seems more difficult than Access to me also. Again, to my understanding, the main way to connect/access data in a mysql database is through a web browser and the mysql database NEEDS some type of server to be hosted on, where Access is just a single file located on your computer or can easily be split into front and back end files for a home or small office network, and no need for a server.
5. I'm contradicting myself on this one a little here and may actually be answering my own question, but with Access, a database designer designs it so the user can easily use it, and I'm guessing it is the same with a mysql database, but with mysql, I don't understand what platform the user uses and also can mysql database records be viewed in "form" or "report" view as is MS Access?
i don't mean to be against all the people who told me otherwise, but I just cant see how mysql is better and easier than MS Access is. The only thing I can think of is that maybe everyone was assuming that my database was for a large corporate situation being accessed by multiple users through multiple locations, but in reality all of my database applications would never need to be accessed remotely and are for small business applications with rarely more than one user at a time accessing it.
Please give me your input on this debate, and I know this is an Access forum, but maybe someone can clear up any wrong assumptions I listed about my knowledge about mysql.
(btw... All the people that told me that mysql was better was from web design forums where mysql is the standard practice for those forums. Maybe on an Access forum I will get people on my side and not feel like I just don't understand something)
1. I can understand that maybe mysql is faster and can hold more information, but none of my current uses will ever need the speed and storage of 1,000,000+ records.
2. My other reason for not agreeing with the general population on this debate is for the general ease of designing an Access database. It has a very neat graphical interface where you can create queries with a few clicks, design forms graphically on screen to look whatever way you please, create reports, navigate so easily through records and have them returned to you in the graphical manor you like.
3. To my understanding with a mysql database, the user that wants to add, view, or manipulate data/records needs to be fluent in the SQL language and type out long complex "select" statements each time they want to retrieve data, and then on top of that, the data is returned in a spreadsheet type format, as opposed to a easily readable form as Access does.
4. How to access the mysql database seems more difficult than Access to me also. Again, to my understanding, the main way to connect/access data in a mysql database is through a web browser and the mysql database NEEDS some type of server to be hosted on, where Access is just a single file located on your computer or can easily be split into front and back end files for a home or small office network, and no need for a server.
5. I'm contradicting myself on this one a little here and may actually be answering my own question, but with Access, a database designer designs it so the user can easily use it, and I'm guessing it is the same with a mysql database, but with mysql, I don't understand what platform the user uses and also can mysql database records be viewed in "form" or "report" view as is MS Access?
i don't mean to be against all the people who told me otherwise, but I just cant see how mysql is better and easier than MS Access is. The only thing I can think of is that maybe everyone was assuming that my database was for a large corporate situation being accessed by multiple users through multiple locations, but in reality all of my database applications would never need to be accessed remotely and are for small business applications with rarely more than one user at a time accessing it.
Please give me your input on this debate, and I know this is an Access forum, but maybe someone can clear up any wrong assumptions I listed about my knowledge about mysql.
(btw... All the people that told me that mysql was better was from web design forums where mysql is the standard practice for those forums. Maybe on an Access forum I will get people on my side and not feel like I just don't understand something)