Sue -
Splitting the database means separate the data from the application. The
back-end is where the data is stored. This can be a Microsoft Access
database or a SQL Server database (as in SQL Express), or another database.
The front-end is the application - the forms, queries, reports, etc. that
make up the user interface. Access is a great back-end for smaller databases
that don't have very rigorous security needs, and is used on a LAN. Other
back-end database like SQL Server or Oracle are much more robust databases
with better security and that can handle much more data and traffic. There
are other great features of these back-end databases including views and
stored procedures for those who need them. You often need a DBA to manage
these databases - you may already have SQL Express at your company, and the
DBA may be able to help you with getting things set up.
You can find a lot of information on SQL Server Express on the Microsoft web
sites. Access even has some tools to help split the database, which will
create two databases from the one you created. BACK UP before you do
anything!!! The back-end will be in Access. Access also has tools to help
you upsize to SQL Server, but there are a lot of caveats. This only works
with certain combinations of Access and SQL Server (e.g. Access 2003 won't
upsize to SQL Server 2008, but Access 2007 will). If your database contains
table or field names with special characters (#, space, etc.) or reserved
words (Date, Name, etc.), then you will have a much more difficult time
upsizing.
Check out the Microsoft web sites, and find out what your company already
has for databases.
Good luck!
