Distribution of Database (without Access)

[The_Vincester]

What's the best way to go about this?

Right now I have about 40 personnel using 40 different Excel files. Each day, each file needs to be copied and pasted into one large file. I've recently had luck replacing several of my personal Excel files with MS Access and now completely hooked on using databases. I would love to replace all of those Excel files with a Database on the network, at the end of the date, compiling everything together would be as easy as a query, and possibly an export (if we needed to send the Excel file out as we sometimes need to).

I've got the use of a Network, but here's the rub. I'm the only one with MS Access installed. I can not talk my boss into buying the additional licenses needed for Access on their computers.

My edition is also not a "Developer Edition" as I've seen where you can create a runtime version, so I guess that's out.

What would be a suitable "frontend" to do something like this. I'm pretty decent at Access, but certainly no expert. What is the best/easiest options that I should be looking at?

I'm willing to learn something new if I have to (which I probably will). I'm also willing to spend some of my own money to put something on my machine at home if it will help me develop something. I just need options because I don't know enough to make a decision about this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MStCyr]

You'll need Office Developer Edition or Access Developer Extensions. The alternative is to redevelop the app using VB - which would be more expensive than using the first option

 

[Geoff Convery]

One thing to be careful of! If any of your users are on different LANS (Local Area Networks) you run a serious risk of corrupting the database when they all start to use it. If all the users are located on the same physical site they are, probably, on the same LAN but have a word with the people who support your network if you are in any doubt.

 

[The_Vincester]

What about using a Data Access Page, or am I just looking for trouble doing that?

They have an MS Office license, just not an MS Access license.

Also, it appears that you can get a Java IDE for free. Would that be an option, or will it not connect to an Access db very well.

I know just enough to be dangerous, but none of the pitfalls of using such things.

 

[MStCyr]

What about using a Data Access Page, or am I just looking for trouble doing that?

They have an MS Office license, just not an MS Access license.

Also, it appears that you can get a Java IDE for free. Would that be an option, or will it not connect to an Access db very well.

I know just enough to be dangerous, but none of the pitfalls of using such things.

The word is that Microsoft will no longer support Data Access Pages after this year. Since the project is obviously done in Access then you should run it in it's native environment.

 

[The_Vincester]

Going to try to work with this using Visual Basic Express Edition 2005 (it's free ).

May not be the "easiest" or the "best" way, but it's something I've wanted to learn for quite awhile now anyway.

Wish me luck (I'll likely need MUCH of it).

 

[MStCyr]

Going to try to work with this using Visual Basic Express Edition 2005 (it's free ).

May not be the "easiest" or the "best" way, but it's something I've wanted to learn for quite awhile now anyway.

Wish me luck (I'll likely need MUCH of it).

Just make sure you can compile to an .EXE before you get too far into it. As far as I know, I don't think you can with the Express Edition... I think it's only a learning edition.

 

[Banana]

Another option is if you already have it, use Terminal Server. Use single computer as a server. Just be sure that users log on the server on a separate session and has their own FE on the server to make it work. It may be bit slower, but at least all data will be processed on the server only, and only screen updates will go over the traffic.