Microsoft access Web Access/ Publish

[export]

Hi All,

I have commissioned building a MS Access database for customer records and installations carried out. Is there a software interface whereby we can access the database from the web and smartphones? (excluding MS Sharepoint)

If not do you recommend online database builders such as Zoho Create? Are there any others apart from ZOHO?

Thanks

 

[export]

Hi

I might not have been clear above, but I am the one that commissioned the database, basically someone is building a database for me.

So to have remote access I either need to save it in dropbox or google drive and access it from a laptop or use a software which puts access on the web (do not want to use sharepoint at all) - we use android and iphone and gmail, for mobile access and do not want to get into another os .

Otherwise also considering Zoho.com creator and other CRM systems, but not sure if we should go this way. Software which is specific to our industry is out of our budget and usually cannot have remote access or you have to pay more. . ( I mainly need to keep track of customer product installs at their premises - physical products, when a service is due, when the service is done etc).

So any ideas?

 

[spikepl]

I mainly need to keep track of customer product installs at their premises - physical products, when a service is due, when the service is done etc).

Be much more specific in terms of needs. Who needs to create, read, update, delete which data and when? Backend on dropbox/gdrive is not "shared" - everyone works on own copy and the latest one "wins" and overwrites all predecessors - do not confuse that with shared access to a db. What makes sense depends on the direction and timing of the data flow.

"software interface"? make a website runnig on your db, and you can access it via any browser (and then mySql is probably better as db) and hardware. If you insist on Access, then you can access Access centrally using Terminal Server or things like LogMeIn or Teamviewer.

 

[export]

There will only be one user at a time logged in. (it will be mainly me ) and other users will have read only .

The database will be used for customer product installations, for example sound systems and all the parts that where installed.

Team viewer is out because it will not be hosted on a PC but dropbox so as to be able to access it remotely. (and so no need to leave a PC ON all the time)

 

[spikepl]

Hmmm . with one user at a time it might work, but if others try to read data? IF the modify-date of the read-only access file changes, then that would overwrite any additions.

You may want to experiment a bit - that shouldt take long - or wait for someone who has had a similar setup (I believe RainLover mentioned something like this., though without more than one person accessing at the same time)

The database will be used for customer product installations, for example sound systems and all the parts that where installed.

this tells sweet FA what data goes into/out of the db

 

[jdraw]

If you are commissioning the creation of a database, then you should have more clearly specified requirements. As others have said, more details are needed.
Pat has given you a lot of good info to review.

Good luck.

 

[export]

Thanks to all for your help

 

[CJ_London]

@Export, not sure if you got your solution, but you could try using TeamViewer or ScreenConnect to provide remote access - they are a bit like terminal server. There are one time licencing costs involved - you'll need to investigate which type suits you best but they are simpler (and generally less expensive) than terminal server licencing.

I'm just experimenting with iphone5 connecting to a winXP/Office 2010 Access system through these systems. So far everything works well with three provisos.

1. forms need to be designed to work on a small screen, basically avoiding the user needing to scroll horizontally or needing to zoom.

2. better to minimise the need for user inputs

3. the touchscreen tap event on the user device is not picked up by Access (or WinXP), the user needs to drag the mouse to the button/control etc then tap to initiate the click/mousedown events. No different to using a mouse, but a different to the way touchscreen works.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like a more detailed discussion.

 

[CJ_London]

Hi Pat, I'll try - is that 6:30 am or pm EDT?