Web based backend? Is it possible?

[sirkenj]

Hello again, all! I am curious if there is a way to link a database on my local PC to a backend on a webserver? I have an .mdb which gets updated through .asp on the server, and would like to link straight to it from my local PC. I have tried setting it up as ODBC to no avail. I know I can ftp to it, but want it linked if possible.

If this can't be done, is there a way to make frontpage download the latest .mdb when it publishes, or another way to update a local copy of the .mdb automatically?

Before everyone tells me I should use SQL server / mySQL on the server, I know...I want to make this work with access, it's a small database which doesn't get much traffic, and needs to be useable by the lowest common denominator!

If it matters, I'm using frontpage XP / Access XP on the local machine, and Windows Server 2003 Small Business on the server with frontpage 2002 server extensions.

Thanks in advance!

-Jon

 

[seaport]

My answer is "No." Once the database on the web server is used by a front-end database (when one linked table is open), this datbase becomes somehow locked and cannot be accessed by IIS. Web users will get an error page showing the database is used by others.

You can definitely use an Access database as a web database while multiple web users may access it at the same time, as long as it is not used by a local user.

Seaport

 

[sirkenj]

OK, so what if I create another database on the server on either an FTP or HTTP site, and link to the tables being updated from the website? Could I then open the second database locally / remotely via ODBC or some other method? (or would it still lock the backend to web users?

If this is not possible, what are others using to access databases made by questbooks? Are you just using .asp pages in an "admin" mode where it will show you all the records? I find it difficult to believe there is no way to link to the database!

The other route, if none of the above is possible, is to find a way to update a local copy of the database. Can't frontpage somehow update my local copy of the database when it publishes by pulling data from the server? (Or could I possibly use replication to do this?

 

[seaport]

You can certainly update or retrive data from a web database (Access database), as long as this updating or retriving process takes only seconds and therefore does to affect the performance of asp applications at all. (Hopefully no web users use it at that second).

I have a program periodically synchronizing data between the web database and the backend database (located on the file server). They work fine.

Seaport

 

[seaport]

sirkenj,

Sorry that my previous answer to your question is not correctly. It turned out that an open Access backend can be accessed by IIS. I tested on my desktop with MS Personal Web Server. The key is to set the right permission for the Access file and the folder where the file is. You may check out the following two links.

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?SQID=14660&SPID=333&newpid=333&page=1

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q174/9/43.ASP

seaport

 

[psemianonymous]

If you want to peek into the future, Microsoft's upcoming "Indigo" web services are the exact solution you're looking for. Sort of.

But, not really. It's built around the .NET framework/XML, and will probably have nothing to do with Access when it is released.

Just realize that the question you're asking is definitely not as easy to accomplish as it sounds; it's not anything like just 'mapping a network drive'.

 

[sirkenj]

Although it's somewhat like fixing a broken leg with a band-aid, I am able to use WebDrive (maps network drive to an ftp site) to link to the database. It's not fast, but does decent. I have managed to use replication to "sync" a local copy and the server copy using WebDrive to assign the ftp site a drive letter. This is working OK for now, but isn't without its flaws!

Thanks for your time and efforts...Tek-Tips has saved me some SERIOUS downtime!!!