Why?

[mohammadagul]

Hello Friends,
I am not sure if this belongs here but still i am going to give it a try.
I have been developing an accounting system in ms access for the last six month for a multipurpose company. The system was ready by the end of february, launched using SQL server and MS access.

Now somone in the company ( I think he is a programmer also) is trying to convince the authorities that using MS access is a complete wasete of time and money. Before i proceed any further , i just want to add here that the maximum number of user is 20. The systemis going well and giving all the details and reports as required by the users

My question is that why the people come to think that access is not a powerfull database creator or why go for ms visual basic or forpro or orcle even if we are using the same sql server with all of them. i just simply cannot understand the logic. If i can make reprots, forms they need in Ms acces why switch to Ms VB even using the same SQL Server? Why?

 

[KenHigg]

I would ask this person to give you the specific issues one at a time. Then you can address them. I wouldn't get totally pro-Access and start slamming VB. The last thing you want is to be caught wrong on something after you've dug in - Approach it with an open mind.


(Just my humble opinion)
Ken

 

[Pat Hartman]

Many people confuse the limitations of Jet with Access. Microsoft is partly to blame for this since they promote Access as an easy to use component of the Office Suite rather than the RAD development tool that it really is. This was a major topic of discussion at the Access Insiders meeting I attended in Redmond two weeks ago. Everyone there agreed that Microsoft needed to play up the flexibility and RAD qualities of Access in order to convince the IT folks that Access really isn't a toy. It can handle mission critical applications when the back end is SQL server or some other more robust be and it is not limited to a small number of concurrent users if you distribute the front ends.

Hopefully, you used good client/server techniques when you developed the application so that it is not using SQL resources excessively. Among other things:

. All forms/reports must be based on queries with where clauses.
. Don't rely on filters as you can with local Jet tables.
. Be careful when constructing queries to not do things that will prevent Jet from passing through your query to the be server.

I suggest that you go to the FMS Inc. site and read the paper on Database Evolution by Luke Chung. The paper does a great job of comparing the costs of various development environments.

While you're there read the other papers. They are also excellent.

 

[mohammadagul]

Thanks guys for such apprehensive replies..
For KenHigg i just want to say that i am not at present becoming totally Pro Access and neither do i think of slamming VB. personnally i think vb is a greate programm to develop and maintain databases... but still i would favour for ms access as being better than vb.

Pat.. Thank you very much . i really appretiate your way of describing.
Now as you have mentioned that Access is a RAD Development tool , how can one convince the opposition of this.. I mean how can i make my competitors belive that access is not just any easy to use componene but a serious critical applications handler...?

 

[Pat Hartman]

The fact that you have a working application that the users are pleased with speaks volumes for Access. You don't need to justify that. Gather the details of your development effort so you can document the development effort in man-days (or women-days, child labor is not allowed) and be sure to print out Luke's article and route it to the skeptics.

I met Luke Chung last week at the Access Insiders conference at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. We had several chats. His company does lots of .net work but he thinks that Access is more appropriate for 98% of the development needs of the average company. Companies waste a lot of money shooting a knat with a shotgun instead of using a fly-swatter. Sounds like you're running into people who think that a shotgun is the appropriate tool for everything. Hopefully, reading Luke's article will open their minds just a little.