SQL Server
- Thread starter Jim W
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- It is a tool that is used to store data. SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, etc. are called RDBMS' or Relational Database Management Systems. Access is like an RDBMS and it also includes the software to build forms/reports and other objects. You can use SQL Server to hold your data but you still need something else to build your application. VB and C++ are common choices. A less common choice is Access.
You can convert an Access database to use SQL server by running the upsizing wizard. Of course work needs to be done before hand. You need to have installed MSDE (the personal version of SQL Server) or have access to your company's SQL Server server.
SQL Server requires help from your IT department. It requires a specialized skill set to properly manage.
K
Kicker
Guest
Good answer Pat...Now let me add some to the question about sql server.
My company uses Oracle. NO computer in the entire system is allowed to use any custome software that hasn't been tested by the IT dept for almost a year. We are "given" Access, Word, Excel and a few others.
If a specialized program is needed, they give us a stand-alone computer to run it. IT CANNOT be connected to the networks. We are allowed to bring Word and Excel documents from home and use them on the network because they get scanned.
My thoughts include.....
1. If I use the specialized program to "export" an ASCII file, I know I can import it into access or excel.
2. Is there any reason I shouldn't be able to "export" data from Oracle and save it to an ASCII file?
If I can do these 2 things, I should be able to save a whole lot of manual comparison between the 2 systems reports.
1. How should I approach the IT dept?
2. Any key buzzwords I should use?
3. If I get access to the Oracle database, can I create my own sql queries and draw data as I need it or will I have to have them do that for me?
Just trying to get my ducks in order before stepping on my own toes.
ttfn
Kicker
My company uses Oracle. NO computer in the entire system is allowed to use any custome software that hasn't been tested by the IT dept for almost a year. We are "given" Access, Word, Excel and a few others.
If a specialized program is needed, they give us a stand-alone computer to run it. IT CANNOT be connected to the networks. We are allowed to bring Word and Excel documents from home and use them on the network because they get scanned.
My thoughts include.....
1. If I use the specialized program to "export" an ASCII file, I know I can import it into access or excel.
2. Is there any reason I shouldn't be able to "export" data from Oracle and save it to an ASCII file?
If I can do these 2 things, I should be able to save a whole lot of manual comparison between the 2 systems reports.
1. How should I approach the IT dept?
2. Any key buzzwords I should use?
3. If I get access to the Oracle database, can I create my own sql queries and draw data as I need it or will I have to have them do that for me?
Just trying to get my ducks in order before stepping on my own toes.
ttfn
Kicker
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Your site security sounds like they try to keep it tight. Not a wrong thing to do these days, given the inherent foibles of Windows as an O/S.
ORACLE has an export verb that sends recordsets to ASCII delimited files, usually using comma as the preferred delimiter. Works on tables or views (Access folks call them SELECT queries).
Factually. Bring a statement of the problem and the name of the person who assigned it to you. Bring a schema (design) of the tables including relationships. Bring estimates of storage requirements. They will probably want to go through some rigamarole to validate the project and the concept. They will probably also have some sort of chargeback process to assure that the IT group doesn't get an unfunded mandate.
Given the tightness of their security based on your description, I'd have to say it doesn't look like you'll be granted DBA rights, which is what it would take to make SHARED/STORED SQL queries. But there are other ways to skin this particular cat. You can always make an SQL file that you can give to ORACLE (through interactive SQL+ or something similar) that can act as a canned query. The difference is that it won't be preanalyzed to determine optimum scan methodology. (I.e. follow the index on table A, then follow the index on table B, then linear scan the result...)
Your main interest is whether they will allow you ODBC access the instance or will force you to limit yourself to SQL+ (interactive) methods. Also you will be interested (though this is not critical; just important) in whether your database would be given its own separate instance or will be folded into the schema of some other instance.
The issues on the one side are that from a viewpoint of security granularity, separate instances are better, and would give you the better chance to be granted the DBA role in your database. In a separate instance, the IT folks can define a special group for you and your users that isolates you. The ORACLE DBAs would have SLIGHTLY less work if they know ahead of time that access to the DB files is limited by O/S security methods. Further, if you were sharing an existing ORACLE instance, they now have to worry about properly setting up roles for your new users that allow them to access your tables but not the other tables in the shared instance. Sort of like having two parallel data sets in a single Access file shared by folks with non-overlapping duties, so the Users group would allow folks to see too much. This would be a lot of extra work for the ORACLE DBAs. They would not like you for doing that to them.
The other side is that ORACLE is - how shall I say this delicately - a bleedin' HOG when it comes to system resources, and every separate instance needs a memory area called the SGA pad (a scratchpad area) dedicated to it. Not to mention the license costs for ODBC and/or for adding more users to ORACLE. Remember, Larry Ellison (the ORACLE CEO) is a Bill Gates wannabe! And he charges for ORACLE products about like Bill charges for Windows components. These resources and the availability of memory on the assigned server will contribute to your IT group's choice in how (or IF) they will allow you to do diddley-squat.
ORACLE has an export verb that sends recordsets to ASCII delimited files, usually using comma as the preferred delimiter. Works on tables or views (Access folks call them SELECT queries).
Factually. Bring a statement of the problem and the name of the person who assigned it to you. Bring a schema (design) of the tables including relationships. Bring estimates of storage requirements. They will probably want to go through some rigamarole to validate the project and the concept. They will probably also have some sort of chargeback process to assure that the IT group doesn't get an unfunded mandate.
Given the tightness of their security based on your description, I'd have to say it doesn't look like you'll be granted DBA rights, which is what it would take to make SHARED/STORED SQL queries. But there are other ways to skin this particular cat. You can always make an SQL file that you can give to ORACLE (through interactive SQL+ or something similar) that can act as a canned query. The difference is that it won't be preanalyzed to determine optimum scan methodology. (I.e. follow the index on table A, then follow the index on table B, then linear scan the result...)
Your main interest is whether they will allow you ODBC access the instance or will force you to limit yourself to SQL+ (interactive) methods. Also you will be interested (though this is not critical; just important) in whether your database would be given its own separate instance or will be folded into the schema of some other instance.
The issues on the one side are that from a viewpoint of security granularity, separate instances are better, and would give you the better chance to be granted the DBA role in your database. In a separate instance, the IT folks can define a special group for you and your users that isolates you. The ORACLE DBAs would have SLIGHTLY less work if they know ahead of time that access to the DB files is limited by O/S security methods. Further, if you were sharing an existing ORACLE instance, they now have to worry about properly setting up roles for your new users that allow them to access your tables but not the other tables in the shared instance. Sort of like having two parallel data sets in a single Access file shared by folks with non-overlapping duties, so the Users group would allow folks to see too much. This would be a lot of extra work for the ORACLE DBAs. They would not like you for doing that to them.
The other side is that ORACLE is - how shall I say this delicately - a bleedin' HOG when it comes to system resources, and every separate instance needs a memory area called the SGA pad (a scratchpad area) dedicated to it. Not to mention the license costs for ODBC and/or for adding more users to ORACLE. Remember, Larry Ellison (the ORACLE CEO) is a Bill Gates wannabe! And he charges for ORACLE products about like Bill charges for Windows components. These resources and the availability of memory on the assigned server will contribute to your IT group's choice in how (or IF) they will allow you to do diddley-squat.
K
Kicker
Guest
This is exactly why I have been lurking around this and other forums for years. Thank you Doc Man.
I have a very unique situation. Computer1 controls the day to day assignments of over 400 employees. It uses a standalone specialized program and cannot be attached to the network. Computer2 (network) contains all the personnel information about the employees including payroll information which is broken down into very very tight categories which needs to correlate with the computer1 data. Vacation, training, sick, etc time data is put on a "handwritten" document and 2 separate people do the data input on the 2 computers. The "assignments" used by computer1 are actually taken and found in computer2. Guess what, they are entered into computer1 from hand written notes or computer printed report. (usually from notes)
I just interviewed from the position that will do all of the work and make sense of the mess. Should find out later this week if I get the job. Your information will be very helpful to me
thank you again
Kicker
I have a very unique situation. Computer1 controls the day to day assignments of over 400 employees. It uses a standalone specialized program and cannot be attached to the network. Computer2 (network) contains all the personnel information about the employees including payroll information which is broken down into very very tight categories which needs to correlate with the computer1 data. Vacation, training, sick, etc time data is put on a "handwritten" document and 2 separate people do the data input on the 2 computers. The "assignments" used by computer1 are actually taken and found in computer2. Guess what, they are entered into computer1 from hand written notes or computer printed report. (usually from notes)
I just interviewed from the position that will do all of the work and make sense of the mess. Should find out later this week if I get the job. Your information will be very helpful to me
thank you again
Kicker
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