SQL, Oracle or Access?

[Ricoy-Chicago]

Have been running MS Access aplication (since inception) for almost four
years. Three crashes: two due to secretary unplugging router by accident (...
and why? IT's idea to put a router by scretary..?..) Once because of
corrupted data. Data was recovered for daily backups.. everything was up in
leass than 30 minutes.

What is the problem? Administration had a consultant reviewing evertyhing:
server, the Access application, Financial Aid software, etc. bottom line, he
suggested to switch to a "faster and better" MDBS. I argued with
administration that what we have works for our needs and it is a lot cheaper
and easier to maintain. Yes, I agree that our server has to be updated (Still
running Win NT 4.0!) but I have been nagging administration to upgrade since
3 years ago! (fustration here).

Adminstration wants me to write a report on advantages/disadvantages on
switching from MS Access to: SQL/Oracle or something else...

I read previous posts from Larry Daugherty and Margaret Bartley (1/6/2005),
need more input than that.

Any ideas of websites that can steer me in the right direction? Lookinig for
possible costs fo software and required hardware. We have only 22 users.

 

[Stefan Hoffmann]

hi,

Adminstration wants me to write a report on advantages/disadvantages on
switching from MS Access to: SQL/Oracle or something else...

Advantages: Better backup and data recovery possibilities, domain
integrated security.

Disadvantages: acquisition cost (Oracle is normally really expensive).

Administration had a consultant reviewing evertyhing:
server, the Access application, Financial Aid software, etc. bottom line, he
suggested to switch to a "faster and better" MDBS.

If this is the entire output he produced, then it is nonsense. Do you
have a feature matrix?


mfG
--> stefan <--

 

[Ricoy-Chicago]

I did not talk to the guy. This comes straight from Administration. As you
can see communication is "great" I think admin. wants to compare my opinion
vs consultant's. ADMIN just told me "faster, better, safer" (why consultant
did not talk directly to me? that is a good Q.!!!)

Any websites ideas for costs for SQL, Oracel, DB2? Maybe hard cold dollar
figures may convince ADMIN that right now it is not the proper time to
switch...

(personally I would welcome the change because someone will have to do the
work, I lack the technical expertise in SQL, Oracle, etc. to do it)

 

[Daniel]

Perhaps this may help you a bit

http://www.cardaconsultants.com/en/msaccess.php?lang=en&id=0000000009

But what really sticks with me is the simple fact that MS Access is 'one
stop shopping'. You can, in an easy to use tool, setup your db, forms,
reports, security,.... No other tool has this. Migrating will require lots
of time, money and to achieve what. The real question here is, does your
existing db meet your needs? If not, is it a limitation of the software or
simply because you need development time.

Most consultants I have worked with, always find a reason for their work?
Obviously, otherwise they'd be out of work. Anyone can go into any company
and say oh my god your working on NT.... will switch you to server 2003 and
bring you up to speed. But do you need to. A multi-national, multi-billion
dollar company I worked for is still running on NT because it suits there
needs.

Don't be dasselled by technology but rather evaluate your needs. It all
goes back to specs. Sit down with admin and discuss your needs and write
them out creating specs. Then evaluate current tools and proposed
'solutions'.

 

[Ricoy-Chicago]

My feelings exactly... "it ain't broke don't fix it"... Access more than
satisfy our school's needs. Admin. thinks that an outside "fresh" look is
better... it is sometimes, but not on our case... anyway I went to microsoft
SQL site and found estimated costs for licensing and users... It will give a
starting point ...

Thank you for all your comments... Sorry if I sounded fustrated but probably
all of you know how it is to deal with Admin (bean counters that want
everythiing but they don't want to pay for it)

 

[Armen Stein]

My feelings exactly... "it ain't broke don't fix it"... Access more than
satisfy our school's needs. Admin. thinks that an outside "fresh" look is
better... it is sometimes, but not on our case... anyway I went to microsoft
SQL site and found estimated costs for licensing and users... It will give a
starting point ...

Thank you for all your comments... Sorry if I sounded fustrated but probably
all of you know how it is to deal with Admin (bean counters that want
everythiing but they don't want to pay for it)

It's true that it might not be "broke". But there is also the issue
of what *could* happen. SQL Server and Oracle are true client-server
databases, and Access isn't. It doesn't mean you need to switch, but
there are other reasons than just that it's broken. And it sounds
like the consultant didn't give very detailed reasons.

Also, there is a free version of SQL Server 2005 called SQL Server
Express. It does all the main things that the pricey versions do, but
it's limited by memory and disk. However, even the Express version is
more powerful than Jet, the database that comes with Access.

To make an Access application use SQL Server properly, you need to
make some changes. See my PowerPoint "The Best of Both Worlds" at
http://www.jstreettech.com/cartgenie/pg_developerDownloads.asp for
some ideas on this topic.

Good luck,

Armen Stein
Microsoft Access MVP
www.JStreetTech.com