Is SQL a requirement?

[Christopher Glaeser]

We have a small office and want to use Access for work orders and invoices
on four computers and a server. Is SQL required on the server, or can
Access support multiple users? The transaction rate is very low and
performance is not an issue.

Best,
Christopher

 

[Kevin3NF]

Access can certainly be set up for mutiple users. Please look up database
splitter in the Access Help. basically, you will have your tables in a
database on a server, and everything else will be iin separate database,
with a copy on each user's workstation. The two databases will be linked.

--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

4 concurrent users is not unreasonable for Access multi-use.

 

[Pavel Romashkin]

I feel you are asking about using Access vs. SQL Server.
No, in your case you don't really need the SQL Server. Use a split
design, as others suggested, with Access back end on the server and
front ends on the 4 PCs.

Pavel

 

[Mick Ruthven]

Why do you say to put a copy of the "program" database on each user's
workstation? It works fine to put it on the server along with the "data"
database, given of course adequate speed of transfer on the network. It
makes for much simpler installation and updating since you just need to put
the new "program" mdb on the server.

 

[Kevin3NF]

Assuming you mean one copy of the mdb (FE) on the server and everyone using
the same file at the same time, you significantly increase your network
traffic and the odds of corrupting the FE, possibly the back-end as well.

Tony Toews Auto-FE Updater is a fine, free utility that updates the users'
copies whenever the main copy is changed.


--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm

 

[Sarah]

I have been watching this conversation and you guys seem to be very
knowledgeable about setting up Access/Sql.
I want to ask to a question that I have asked previously, and nobody is
responding to.
What is the best way to set up tables for a database that I want to use in a
small environment e.g. access and large environment e.g. sql.
Do I have to do everything twice. or are there good utilities 'out there' to
save time.
Your advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sarah

 

[Pavel Romashkin]

I think there is an upsizing wizard in Access. Have you tried it?

Pavel

 

[Kevin3NF]

You could use MSDE for the data, which is great for a small (5 connections)
environment, and can easily be flipped to SQL Server standard for large
clients.

--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm