Hello all from Virgina

[sorensjp]

Hello,

New member to ACCESS World. I'm trying to learn and understand Databases. My goal is building work related DB(s) in a cloud environment eventually. I have a good background in Excel. I'm using MS Office 2019 at home and MS 365 at work (Department of War).

V/r,
Jim

 

[Jon]

Welcome to Access World! We're so happy to have you join us as a member of our community. As the most active Microsoft Access discussion forum on the internet, with posts dating back more than 20 years, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you.

We're a friendly and helpful community, so don't hesitate to ask any questions you have or share your own experiences with Access. We're here to support you and help you get the most out of this powerful database program.

To get started, we recommend reading the post linked below. It contains important information for all new users of the forum:

https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/new-member-read-me-first.223250/

We hope you have a great time participating in the discussion and learning from other Access enthusiasts. We look forward to having you around!

 

[NauticalGent]

Greetings from Prince George, Jim. Welcome aboard!

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Hello, Jim, and welcome to the forums. Unfortunately, one of your goals is going to be a real problem with Access. Due to protocol issues, things in the cloud often have anywhere from serious to insurmountable problems with Access, because Cloud network protocols don't completely overlap with required Access protocols. Since you are new to the forum, something that might help you learn about our features is in the menu bar above the forum's scrollable areas - the SEARCH button with its magnifying glass icon. Search the forum for articles on CLOUD or ONEDRIVE to see things on that topic.

 

[theDBguy]

Hi. Welcome to AWF!

 

[sorensjp]

Hello, Jim, and welcome to the forums. Unfortunately, one of your goals is going to be a real problem with Access. Due to protocol issues, things in the cloud often have anywhere from serious to insurmountable problems with Access, because Cloud network protocols don't completely overlap with required Access protocols. Since you are new to the forum, something that might help you learn about our features is in the menu bar above the forum's scrollable areas - the SEARCH button with its magnifying glass icon. Search the forum for articles on CLOUD or ONEDRIVE to see things on that topic.

Doc_Man,

Thank you for your insight. I guess, a better explanation to learn Access is to build a solid base line understanding of relational databases. We do use Access in the agency within the Department of War. An issue in the near future is one of my colleagues created an ACCESS DB but shall retire in the next few years. The info held in that DB is both Classified and require work specific reports we simply cannot "buy" a DB nor hire "off the street" due to the security restrictions. I figured learning ACCESS could be a good steppingstone to understanding how to structure a DB to have better chance to migrate to a cloud-based DB in the future.

For instance, the unclassified web we use (NAVY) has recently moved to a Cloud based system, so our primary portal is SharePoint. There are so many recent changes, and without any real training on new tools and best practices.

Again, Thank you for your reply.

V/r,
Jim

 

[sorensjp]

Greetings from Prince George, Jim. Welcome aboard!

NauticalGent,

Thank you.

V/r,
Jim

 

[The_Doc_Man]

For instance, the unclassified web we use (NAVY) has recently moved to a Cloud based system, so our primary portal is SharePoint. There are so many recent changes, and without any real training on new tools and best practices.

Unclassified web? Would have that been NMCI? I was a contractor with the U.S. Navy Reserve (and later with SPAWAR when they still had that name) for 28 1/2 years. Your reference to looking into Azure means there is hope. A straight-up cloud that ISN'T Azure-related might not be so hopeful. So let me encourage you in the direction that might work and away from one that will fall into the category of "not so much."

As to "the Access expert retired" - I did that to a couple of my colleagues in 2016. And got seriously started with Access in about 2003 when our Access expert took a job in private industry.

I'm perhaps a little bit surprised that Navy IT would allow Access anywhere near a Secret project, but if you have an Azure back-end, maybe they feel that is controllable enough to meet their somewhat anal-retentive requirements. I had a local-only DB on an internal-only net (not NMCI) and even that took a lot of hoop-jumping. It's a shame there was no Olympic sport of that type, 'cause I might have made it to the awards podium if there had been.

 

[sorensjp]

Unclassified web? Would have that been NMCI? I was a contractor with the U.S. Navy Reserve (and later with SPAWAR when they still had that name) for 28 1/2 years. Your reference to looking into Azure means there is hope. A straight-up cloud that ISN'T Azure-related might not be so hopeful. So let me encourage you in the direction that might work and away from one that will fall into the category of "not so much."

As to "the Access expert retired" - I did that to a couple of my colleagues in 2016. And got seriously started with Access in about 2003 when our Access expert took a job in private industry.

I'm perhaps a little bit surprised that Navy IT would allow Access anywhere near a Secret project, but if you have an Azure back-end, maybe they feel that is controllable enough to meet their somewhat anal-retentive requirements. I had a local-only DB on an internal-only net (not NMCI) and even that took a lot of hoop-jumping. It's a shame there was no Olympic sport of that type, 'cause I might have made it to the awards podium if there had been.

Doc_Man,

Yep, NMCI. Your right Azure, at least I think so. I have one or two things in mind to attempt to create (i.e. Leave Tracker and a Watch Team Bill Rotation). I'm watch YouTube and messing around with some ACCESS applications to start.

Our Classified Projects are on SIPR net for "in house" reports and metrics for our watch team performance and data collection. As well as duration of time held of contacts of interest. The problem will be when we transition to that network to Cloud as well.

My EXCEL skills are decent, but I know a DB is better suited for most projects.

V/r,
Jim

 

[The_Doc_Man]

We are perhaps exceeding the intent of the "Intro" forum, but EXCEL on a cloud actually works because Excel doesn't use SMB protocol.

I spent MOST (not all) of my time on NIPR net because most of my machines were SBU/FOUO.