Sharing only Tables but keep them online?

[kingdoz]

Hello everyone,

I could do with a bit of knoweldge from someone as cant seem to find teh details on the help files. Does anyone know if it is possible to have the tables only of an Access 2007 table saved online, and the front end offline on a few Windows machines that have Access installed, so that the tables are always up and up-to-date and can share the database content from a few Pc's anywhere in the world that have slightly different frontend forms? Is this possible with Access? Also, will it be very slow if it is indeed doable even though the heavy stuff like reports and queries and forms are local? I was suggested by to convert the database to SQL and build web forms for it, but Im not sure if I wish to do this as I can only use Access (im not a techie) and wish to improve the database and built on it in the future easily.

Thanks
Doz

 

[Beetle]

This is possible with A2007 afaik, but only if you use Sharepoint Server for the back end. The tables actually become Sharepoint Lists. If you want to do this you'd be better off using A2010 because you can actually create a web database where you can have forms that run in a browser, so the users can get at least some of the functionality even if they don't have Access available on their machines. You can do it in A2007, but you don't have web forms so the users must have an Access front end to work with.

More info here.

 

[boblarson]

And also in Access 2007 SharePoint is very limited in how many records it can store. It can't handle really large tables.

With Access 2010 (as long as you also have SharePoint 2010 with Access Services enabled) it is much better. If using older versions of SharePoint, it would have the same limitations as 2007.

 

[kingdoz]

Thanks very much for your help. I may convert the database to access 2010 to take advantage better. Can you advise me where I can buy some sharepoint space online thats is reliable but not too pricey, that supports access 2010 and keeps its easy to start so I can start playing? My database is currently around 20mb but that's mainly do to reports with graphics in there. Finally once tables on sharepoint, can they still be changed easily back to access again when I need to modify the database?
Thanks again,
Doz

 

[boblarson]

You can check out AccessHosting.com but it can be pretty pricey depending on the number of users you will need to have using it.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Converting the BE to SQL server is the easiest and most flexible solution. You can then have it hosted where it can be shared by Access Front ends anywhere. This will slow down the app if you have bound forms directly to tables or unqualified queries. You'll need to change the forms so they open empty and then you enter selection criteria to bring up only the records you are looking for. Hosting an Access BE on an internet site can be done but sharing it will be very slow since Jet/ACE are file servers rather than database servers and will send way too much data over the net.

 

[kingdoz]

Hi, thanks for all the help. Converting to SQL server sounds good, (and im told we have SQL server on our work sbs2300 server), main issue I have is once converted, how easy would it be to convert back to Access every time I need to modify the database? I can't programme, hence access is so useful with its wizards and easy to use interface.

 

[boblarson]

Hi, thanks for all the help. Converting to SQL server sounds good, (and im told we have SQL server on our work sbs2300 server), main issue I have is once converted, how easy would it be to convert back to Access every time I need to modify the database?

No, you would not do that. The BACKEND database (which is tables only) would be what is on SQL Server. There would still be a frontend which exists in Access and that is what you would normally be modifying. If you needed to modify any of the backend tables on SQL Server you would use SQL Management Studio for that.

I can't programme, hence access is so useful with its wizards and easy to use interface.

Sometimes accelerated learning is the result of having to do something. So it could be beneficial to you as you would be learning how to do this and get weaned from the wizards.

 

[Pat Hartman]

There is one last wizard to use - the upsizing wizard will create the tables and a database to hold them in SQL Server, transfer the data, and leave you with linked tables.