Inconsequential Query (1 Viewer)

[DickyP]

Generally here on AW users either just use native Access as their data store, or those producing more commercial apps, SQLServer.

I would be intrigued to know what other back ends our contributors may currently use?

I have in the past used Oracle, MySQL and SQLLite, albeit not these days when I use MS Access just for myself only (and for pleasure/fun).

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Currently I'm only on native Access. With the U.S. Navy, we used ORACLE as a BE except for a couple of SQL Server cases. (We had 80 projects but most didn't involve FE operations.) For a while, our electrical engineers used Excel as a data store and then wondered why it was so difficult to use. Which is the first professional project I took for the Navy. Took me a while to wean them from using Access to control Excel like that and start using "pure" Access.

 

[isladogs]

This article may be of interest

What Access Versions are Developers Using in 2025?

Here are some survey results from recent conferences so you can see how your personal usage and expectations differ from them.

www.accessforever.org

 

[MarkK]

Recently I've been querying data over http from SharePoint. Lists exposed on SharePoint are available via phone-based MS Power Apps for users who have an account on our company MS 365 tenant account. For outward-facing data domains this is really cool, because our Access-based ERP system can interact with that same data, effectively moving parts of the ERP online.

 

[GPGeorge]

Recently I've been querying data over http from SharePoint. Lists exposed on SharePoint are available via phone-based MS Power Apps for users who have an account on our company MS 365 tenant account. For outward-facing data domains this is really cool, because our Access-based ERP system can interact with that same data, effectively moving parts of the ERP online.

You didn't call out what I consider to be the primary benefit of this architecture. That is that a PowerApps app, linked to SharePoint Lists and running on a smart device -- phone or cellular-enable tablet, does not require an internet connection. Your ERP is not just online; it's available wherever a user has bars on their phone.

 

[cheekybuddha]

Your ERP is not just online; it's available wherever a user has bars on their phone.

Erm, isn't that an internet connection?

 

[GPGeorge]

Erm, isn't that an internet connection?

Perhaps I chose the wrong way to describe the difference I'm pointing out.

I distinguish here between a cellular connection through a phone while not connected to the internet via Wifi and an internet connection via Wifi to an internet host or to a network.

For example, I can connect my iPhone to the Wifi in my home and use it to access the internet that way. Or, while walking around the grocery store, I'm using cellular data from my carrier, not connected to any network, to run a PowerApps application over the cellular connection.

Or, maybe a better example: a client has no internet connection in their building. Their desktop computer can't connect to the internet. However, if I take my cellular enabled tablet into their building, it connects to the PowerApps app via my cellular network. If I take a different tablet which is not cellular enabled into that building, it's unable to run the PowerApps app because there is neither a WiFi connection nor a cellular connection.

 

[GPGeorge]

Feature Cellular-Enabled Tablets Non-Cellular Tablets Internet Connectivity Can access the internet via cellular networks Depends on Wi-Fi for internet access Mobility More mobile; can use data on the go Limited to Wi-Fi availability Cost Generally more expensive due to cellular features Usually less expensive Data Plans Requires a separate data plan from a carrier No additional data costs Usage Scenarios Ideal for frequent travelers, outdoor use Best suited for home use, cafes, and areas with Wi-Fi Battery Life May consume more battery due to cellular services Typically offers longer battery life SIM Card Support Requires a SIM card No SIM card necessary

 

[BlueSpruce]

a cellular connection through a phone while not connected to the internet

A cellular connection is a gateway to the internet. Smartphones have modems that connect to each carriers IP address.

 

[isladogs]

Using Windows Phone Link, isn't a non-cellular tablet broadly equivalent to a cellular tablet?

 

[GPGeorge]

A cellular connection is a gateway to the internet. Smartphones have modems that connect to each carriers IP address.

Thank you. The relevant factor here is that, with a cellular enabled tablet, or a smart phone, a user can run a PowerApps app regardless of whether they are connected via WiFi to a network or to the internet or not. The smartphone provides the connection.

This is in contrast to the availability of a WiFi connection, or as Colin points out, a Windows Phone Link, which supports the connection to the internet via an ISP.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Using Windows Phone Link, isn't a non-cellular tablet broadly equivalent to a cellular tablet?

A non-cellular tablet with Phone Link is totally dependent on a WiFi or Bluetooth tether to a smartphone.

 

[GPGeorge]

Using Windows Phone Link, isn't a non-cellular tablet broadly equivalent to a cellular tablet?

Good question, I assume so.

But that begs the question as to whether, being connected through Windows Phone Link, the smart phone gains access to an internet connection.

 

[GPGeorge]

A non-cellular tablet with Phone Link is totally dependent on a WiFi or Bluetooth tether to a smartphone.

Are you saying that the Phone Link only connects tablets to smart phones?

 

[BlueSpruce]

Are you saying that the Phone Link only connects tablets to smart phones?

Yes, Phone Link cannot connect to the internet via a WiFi router. It has to be tethered to a Phone.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sync-across-your-devices

I access all my iPhone's apps, send/receive calls and text messages on a PC, MacBook, and iPad by logging into iCloud.com

 

[isladogs]

That was the point I was making in post #10
Using Phone Link, the tablet can use the phone's Internet connection where it isn't connected directly using Wifi.
Correct?

 

[GPGeorge]

Interesting. Here's what Claude told me:
Phone Link is a Microsoft app that connects your Android phone or iPhone to your Windows PC, letting you access your phone's features directly from your computer.


What it does:

• Messages: Send and receive text messages from your PC
• Calls: Make and receive phone calls through your computer (Android)
• Notifications: See phone notifications on your desktop
• Photos: Access recent photos from your phone
• Apps: Run Android apps on your PC (select Samsung and other Android devices)
• File transfer: Drag and drop files between devices

How it works:

1. Install the Phone Link app on your Windows PC (comes pre-installed on Windows 10/11)
2. Install the companion app on your phone:
   • Android: "Link to Windows" app
   • iPhone: "Phone Link" app from the App Store
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account on both devices
4. Follow the pairing process, which typically involves scanning a QR code
5. Grant the necessary permissions (contacts, messages, notifications, etc.)

The apps maintain a connection via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, syncing data in the background. The feature set is more robust with Android phones (especially Samsung Galaxy devices) compared to iPhones, which have more limited integration due to iOS restrictions.


It's basically Microsoft's version of Apple's Continuity features, designed to create a seamless experience between your phone and Windows PC.


Here is what Claude has to say about tablets and Windows Link:

Generally, no - Phone Link is designed specifically for phones, not tablets.


Why it doesn't work with tablets:

• The app requires a cellular connection and phone number for core features like calls and SMS
• Most tablets are Wi-Fi only without cellular capabilities
• The companion apps ("Link to Windows" for Android, "Phone Link" for iOS) aren't typically available or supported on tablet versions of the operating systems

Potential exceptions:

• Some Android tablets with cellular capabilities and a phone number might work if you can sideload the "Link to Windows" app, but this isn't officially supported
• Samsung tablets with cellular may have better compatibility due to Samsung's deeper integration with Microsoft

For tablets, consider instead:

• Your Phone Companion (older Microsoft app) - has limited tablet support
• Cloud services - OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud for file syncing
• Microsoft 365 apps - Use Word, Excel, etc. across devices with cloud sync
• Remote Desktop apps - Access your PC directly from your tablet

So if you're looking to connect a tablet to your Windows PC, you'll need to use other solutions beyond Phone Link.

 

[GPGeorge]

That was the point I was making in post #10
Using Phone Link, the tablet can use the phone's Internet connection where it isn't connected directly using Wifi.
Correct?

Good point. So if you have both a phone and a tablet, that is another option you can use that combination to get connectivity.

The main difference, I guess, is one device (cellular enabled tablet) to carry vs two devices (tablet + smart Phone).

The point I was really trying to make, though, is that PowerApps can connect to the SharePoint lists without being tethered to a location where either WiFi or a cable connection to the internet is available.

That can be either the cell phone directly, a cellular enabled tablet, or as here, a table using the cellular service of the smart phone.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Interesting. Here's what Claude told me:
Phone Link is a Microsoft app that connects your Android phone or iPhone to your Windows PC, letting you access your phone's features directly from your computer.


What it does:

• Messages: Send and receive text messages from your PC
• Calls: Make and receive phone calls through your computer (Android)
• Notifications: See phone notifications on your desktop
• Photos: Access recent photos from your phone
• Apps: Run Android apps on your PC (select Samsung and other Android devices)
• File transfer: Drag and drop files between devices

How it works:

1. Install the Phone Link app on your Windows PC (comes pre-installed on Windows 10/11)
2. Install the companion app on your phone:
   • Android: "Link to Windows" app
   • iPhone: "Phone Link" app from the App Store
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account on both devices
4. Follow the pairing process, which typically involves scanning a QR code
5. Grant the necessary permissions (contacts, messages, notifications, etc.)

The apps maintain a connection via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, syncing data in the background. The feature set is more robust with Android phones (especially Samsung Galaxy devices) compared to iPhones, which have more limited integration due to iOS restrictions.


It's basically Microsoft's version of Apple's Continuity features, designed to create a seamless experience between your phone and Windows PC.


Here is what Claude has to say about tablets and Windows Link:

Generally, no - Phone Link is designed specifically for phones, not tablets.


Why it doesn't work with tablets:

• The app requires a cellular connection and phone number for core features like calls and SMS
• Most tablets are Wi-Fi only without cellular capabilities
• The companion apps ("Link to Windows" for Android, "Phone Link" for iOS) aren't typically available or supported on tablet versions of the operating systems

Potential exceptions:

• Some Android tablets with cellular capabilities and a phone number might work if you can sideload the "Link to Windows" app, but this isn't officially supported
• Samsung tablets with cellular may have better compatibility due to Samsung's deeper integration with Microsoft

For tablets, consider instead:

• Your Phone Companion (older Microsoft app) - has limited tablet support
• Cloud services - OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud for file syncing
• Microsoft 365 apps - Use Word, Excel, etc. across devices with cloud sync
• Remote Desktop apps - Access your PC directly from your tablet

So if you're looking to connect a tablet to your Windows PC, you'll need to use other solutions beyond Phone Link.

I access all my iPhone's apps, send/receive calls and text messages on a PC, MacBook, iPad, or any device that has a web browser by logging into iCloud.com.

 

[GPGeorge]

I access all my iPhone's apps, send/receive calls, and text messages on a PC, MacBook, and iPad by logging into iCloud.com with any web browser

Cool.

We all have a lot of options for remaining connected.

This has, unfortunately, drifted away from the original topic of the discussion, which was

"I would be intrigued to know what other back ends our contributors may currently use?"

One response was about using PowerApps, as well as an Access interface, with SharePoint lists.

I offered the observation that PowerApps has a second advantage, not being tethered to a location because of the availability of cellular connectivity in addition to direct internet connectivity.

For my part in diverting the original focus of the question, I apologize and bow out now.