How can MS Access to become/convert to the ASP

[eggy168]

Hi, I just receive a project and the duration is a yr about convert the MS Access front end database to ASP or ASP.net. I really have no idea how and where to start. The main point is I really don't know can I be able to do it within a year?! I am pulling my hair out of my hair now. HELP HELP HELP
First of all, I really don't know what is the different between ASP and ASP.net? Can anyone tell me quick so then I can have something to say during the first meeting?

Second, what are the applications/hardware I need in order for me to start this huge project?

Third, I really don't know can ASP or ASP.net can do the similar functions as we use the MS Access front end database. In our MS Access front end database, we uses ODBC to link all SQL Server tables (all the data storage). In the MS Access front end database, there has so many complex forms which users can enter data and using data to calculate finanical information for the depts. Then we have so many ad hoc queries and reports which clients use them for their finanical analysis jobs. Then, they need to copy some of the data from the tables to MS Excel to continue doing complicate analysis jobs. Do ASP or ASP.net can solve all these questions?

Third, I am willing to learn as much as I can quick, but I really need some advices/suggestions/tips where can I start this project.

Thanks you.

 

[DotNetGnat]

Yes you can use either ASP or ASP.NET...

ASP is very easy to learn but on the otherhand ASP.NET provides more functionalities...

But for your project i would suggest you to use ASP.

You can emulate all the Access frontend into ASP frontends without any problems...

please visit the link

http://www.w3schools.com/asp

to read more..

-DNG

 

[eggy168]

so, ASP has all the functions as Access ~ form, subforms, combo box, list box, tab and calcuation field?
Can ASP easily upload to web page? I think this is the next step for my project.
Thank very much for the link, it gives me alot of infomation about learning ASP.

 

[DotNetGnat]

Yes ASP has all the functions and more that you can do with Access front end...

and asp pages are very effective as web pages...

You need to IIS installed so that ASP pages can run...

for writing/editing asp files...you can use even notepad or you can select from various products like Ultraedit, MS Frontpage, Textpad etc...

i will as well mention that we name the asp files with extension .asp.

Let me know if you need any more information...

also post any questions you have...i am sure that you would get an answer from the very active members of this forum...

-DNG

 

[Sheco]

Not exactly.

You will create your interface with HTML and JavaScript.

HTML has elements for selection lists, textboxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, and forms to submit data to the server.

JavaScript can be used for your client side calculations and form validations.

ASP is a server-side technology. The primary purpose of ASP is to dynamically generate HTML that is sent to the browser. If a web page will always look exactly the same, there is little need to make it with ASP because you can just use plain HTML.

For your project, you will use ASP to run SQL commands against your database. You will use ADO objects to connect to the database and run the SQL. You will use the results returned from the database to dynamically create HTML for the browser.

ASP is usually done in either VBScript or JavaScript. I like to use VBScript for the ASP so that I can keep it mentally separated from the client-side JavaScript. If you don't know either of these 2 scripting languages then it might be easier for you to just learn JavaScript and use it for both client and server.

 

[Sheco]

Oh, but on the other hand most of the ASP samples that you find will be written in VBScript and I suspect that your project will end up with a lot more server-side ASP code than client-side code... so maybe you should at least learn to read VBScript.

 

[DotNetGnat]

More precise from the expert.

-DNG

 

[Sheco]

Whoops.

That "Not exactly" was in response to "so, ASP has all the functions as Access" ... you just beat me to it.

 

[eggy168]

Thanks you all the tips and advices. It is really helpful and give me a good start on my project.

Is that mean VB Script can't do calculation and form validation since Sheco mentioned Javascript can be used for the calculation and form validation. Is that mean VBScript can't do it?

My main concern is ASP can solve all the MS Access forms/queries/reports problem? My office co-workers really hate to see the changes on the front end not only because they don't want to learn new stuff, but also they don't know anything except entering data and use my built-in queries to do finanical analysis or use Excel to do their jobs.

 

[Sheco]

If all of your potential audience for this application are using Internet Explorer then you can do your client-side calculations and validations with VBScript.

So basically if you are making an intranet application that will only be used by people in your office, and everyone in your office uses Internet Explorer then you can use VBScript for client-side work.

If you are making a website that anyone can access it is better to use JavaScript for client scripting because it is supported by all modern browsers.

The ASP portion of the project only runs on the server so this isn't an issue... thats why they are called Active Server Pages