WEB Based databses

[hdgirl]

I'll post this thread again due to the bad spelling of my previous thread

Help, I have been asked to make a database web based ?????? i know nothing about doing this so can anyone point me in the right direction of what i need to learn to be able to do it????????
CJB



CJB

 

[BullHalseyUSN]

I would suggest that you will receive more replies if you make a good faith attempt to understand some basics of such a broad question.

Start at google. There are any number of sites devoted to Access basics.

You will find that your inquiry is unmanageably elementary. For instance, what does "web-enabled" mean here? Do you want to use Access as the database for a web app? Or are you asking about Data Access Pages?

 

[JimHorton]

hdgirl,
I agree with bull, I looked at your question earlier and just clicked right past it because it was way, way to vague and broad--a double whammy. We'll all be glad to help if you clarify and narrow the scope.

Perhaps make several subsequent posts, one for each component of the broader question.
--jim

 

[hdgirl]

Thanks guys for replying but that's just it i dont really know what i'm supposed to be lookig for. I have a very wide knowledge of access & VBA but no web programming knowledge, so when i was asked to make existing databases and new accessible via the web i'm stumped. I know that the purpose is to allow multi-users to access one database without putting access to the desk but that's it, maybe it would be best to start at the drawing board but as i said my fellow colleagues are stumped as well....good team!

CJB

 

[JimHorton]

bdgirl,
Ok, first ask the person who asked you to do this:
1. Do they want 'read only' views of the data?
2. Do they want to be able to update/add data (are there data-entry apps here?) via the web?
3. Do they want users to be able to run processes, etc. see forms, etc, the whole sh'bang just as if it were an Access application on their desktop, but now it's in a browser?

The answer to 1 is easy.
The answer to 2 is a bit more work, but doable.
3's degree of difficulty is in proportion with how big the existing Access app. is--how many forms, reports, processes, etc. need to be converted.

First, they'll never get the same user-interface on the web. Let's face it--web programming is extremely primative in terms of UI functionality and flexibility.

I'm relatively new to web stuff, but I've done several decent sized web-database apps, and as I learn this stuff (ASP and JavaScript), I have to tone down my exasperation when I go to those forums (some here on tek-tips) and see the magnitude of what can't be done!.

These web guys get so proud about some massive chunk of code they have that does something so simple and elementary--it'll be like 10 pages of complex code--to sycnronize a set of comboboxes or something--something that's like, 2 lines of code in VB. Sheesh! Not to disparage web programmers, but in my opinion, while the usefullness of web apps is not in argument, the fact that it's on the web period is of course the big plus--you're taking many leaps backwards as far as the UI functionality and flexibility of what the app can do. Ok, I digress.

Anyway, bottom line is that the Web (and specifically ASP and IIS) has really helped save Access as a viable application: Access' main flaw was that it's not Client-server, and network based Access dbs suffered severely. However, when Access sit's on an IIS server--no matter who's accessing the db from anywhere in the world--the .mdb is accessed by one user (IIS)--and typically the Access .mdb is on that very IIS machine. No network traffic for the .mdb data-accesses/updates (maybe some contention issues with page locking), just the records returned or status or whatever.

Let us know as you get more info...

-Jim

 

[hdgirl]

Jim

Thanks for your reply. If only they wanted 1. life would be simple but i feel its the whole shebang. but i find your reply very helpful and i think i have a lot to learn, thanks again.

CJB

 

[BakeMan]

hdgirl

Try going to

http://www.asp101.com/

and searching on Access databases. They have many examples of applications you could modify to fit you needs. I have done more of these types of applications than I can count and I got my start from this site. They also have a forum that may help you out. Try asking questions about specific examples on the site in their forum. Then once you get to a point that you have a specific question about your app I would suggest posting back here. The users here seem to be more helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable.

I hope this helps

BAKEMAN