Which version of Access to use ?

[Remus]

Hello All

I have a database which is use at busy times to run the delivery side of our Floristry business. The orders are entered,assigned to a delivery area, address labels printed. When it comes to delivery day orders are selected from the list ticked off then printed a make a list for the driver.

It was built using Access 97 when it first came out. Since then the software was upgraded to Access 2000 many mods have been made each year to improve the performance and the number of things it can do. It now has about 15 tables and a lot of queries.
Not being an expert with Access a lot of the design has been on a trial and error basis. Put it another way the main form has many hidden fields to make things work behind the scenes. But it does most of what I want it to.
I have now go to the point where the main query is saying that I can't add any more features because I have to many fields in it.

So the time has come to look at re building it for a number of reasons.

1. It is a stand alone database on one Pc.......... I would like to have it on a network to 3 or 4 Pc's around the shop.
2. Some of it needs to be redesigned to take out my ( it might not be the way a designer would it but it does work) type bits.
3 I would like to be able to use the system for all orders received on a day to day basis. So it will need to be used by other people.


My question today is
Should I be looking to rebuilt it using Access 2003 + the extra software so that i can run it on more than one PC.

Or would it be better to wait few months till Acess 2007 comes out and start from scratch.


thanks

Kevin.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I am more concerned that you are using Access 97 or Ac2K. Which means you have to use the MDAC for that version of Access. I know for an absolute fact that you must be using a very non-secure version of this software because of the massive number of patches issued for same. (I used to teach Windows Security to new Windows Systems Administrators, which is why I am aware of the patches.)

If it were left to me, I would find a more recent version of Access if I am going to start using the product in a networked environment. While there will be a conversion "hump" to consider, you will save yourself in the long run with the improved internal security.

I also agree with joeserrone that if you have a "too many fields" message, you are perhaps in need of a redesign. If you are not comfortable with this action, I'm not recommending Joe because I don't know him. But it might be prudent to hire a consultant if you want to clean things up a lot.

If you want to do this yourself, one of the most common problems we see (here in the forum) is that inexperienced Access owners will design a database using flat-file thinking. (I.e. treating Access like a flashy version of Excel.) If there is even the slightest chance that this description fits you, I VERY strongly recommend that you read up on normalization. Google it and weed through the 20-million-plus hits you'll get to find some scholarly and knowledgable articles from .edu sites. Pick a school you recognize and read what their computer science department has to say about it. Then (AND ONLY THEN) take a look at your redesign.

 

[Remus]

Hi

Thank you The Doc Man for your useful response regarding the need to improved the internal security of my database, if I wish to use it on a network.
So that's another reason to upgrade the database. It still leaves the question is it common sense to wait and use Access 2007 the newest and ? best. I seem to remember a while back that one of the members said something about runtime would not be available with 2007. Would it be better for the sake of just 3 or 4 pc's to get a copy of access for each and forget the runtime option .

As far as the re build is concerned I would much rather build it myself.
1 to learn more about it
2 it will then be easier to add any extras

Re your comment .......
will design a database using flat-file thinking. (I.e. treating Access like a flashy version of Excel.)

I have tried to work from examples in various books eg Access 97 Secrets.... Step by Step Access 97.... Running Access97.
The query which feeds the main forms within the database is getting info from 13 tables. So as you can see its not just one table.
I will over Christmas do some more searching on the subject of normalization.


Thank again for your help and Happy Christmas.

 

[dsigner]

I can't help with the specifics of which version to use but here are some thoughts which may be useful. The new version of Access will probably tie in with the new version of Windows which in turn is designed to make full use of the newer and more powerful computer chips. I assume that you are going to keep the same hardware and so will not be upgrading Windows etc. If you get Access too far ahead of everything else you will probably have more problems than otherwise. Pick a version of Access which works well with your set up and use that till you upgrade the whole system.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

As to whether you use Ac2k3 or Ac2k7 is your call. I can't advise you as I don't have a copy of Ac2k7 for comparison. I have found Ac2k3 to be fairly stable and reasonably well-featured. It is more secure than the earlier versions of Access. Ac2k3 is (by some) called AcXP because it came out at about the same time as XP and uses XP features well.