Although Access is the leading desktop database product, it is also the most under-exploited application in the Microsoft Office suite and continues to suffer unwarranted criticism. This short article aims to dispel some of the myths and show how Microsoft Access belongs at the heart of custom desktop solutions.
Microsoft Access Facts and Tips
Much of the criticism levelled against Access arises from failure to understand its capabilities.
Microsoft Access is a robust, fully-featured database and a natural choice for
handling data input, particularly in multi-user applications.
Access will easily handle up to 10 simultaneous users in
regular input/output situations and 20 or more where usage is
light.
The built-in security, form and query design features save hours of development time and it will pay for itself time and again in custom software developments. Access projects are particularly good at creating and powering Web and intranet based presentations.
Tip: In multi-user environments, keep data in a separate back-end database. This speeds up network traffic and allows front-end development to continue without affecting data or interrupting users.
SQL Server is Microsoft's enterprise database and can handle
hundreds of simultaneous users. Specify SQL Server if you
anticipate more than 10 simultaneous database users.
Access can be upsized later should the need arise and the
familiar Access user interface is virtually unchanged.
Tip: Make sure SQL Server compatibility is specified from the outset. Upsizing to SQL Server is much more difficult if you have to remove incompatible SQL Server syntax built into the basic design.
Access at the heart of custom software development in Microsoft Office
Access shares data and functionality across the Microsoft Office suite. Access VBA is now largely compatible with the other Office applications so the rich functionality of Excel calculations and analytical tools is available to Access. Access and Excel can be integrated seamlessly to merge database security and data validation with spreadsheet flexibility.
Tip: If you anticipate a significant volume of read-only enquiries or want to make the data available to Excel, consider writing data extracts to a separate database. This will speed up enquiries and normal input/output operations.
Access as the link to your business enterprise software
An Access database is the ideal way of making enterprise data available to desktop users. By acting as a buffer, it ensures data flow is one way only and avoids any possibility of accidentally corrupting key business data.
Access and the Web
Access projects are a quick and effective method of publishing information to internet/intranet sites. Access databases can support an almost unlimited number of enquiries.
Rapid Prototyping
Microsoft Office is an ideal vehicle for rapid application development.
It allows increased user participation throughout the prototyping phase and
contributes to a proven specification for the final development. See
an Example here
Access Deployment issues
IT managers are sometimes reluctant to deploy Access throughout their organisation because of the additional licence and support costs. In practice, the benefits are likely to outweigh any additional costs but if this is seen as a problem, there are several strategies for avoiding full deployment. Please contact PBMS for more information.
Contact PBMS Consultants
For more information on Access and custom software development in Microsoft Office call Peter Barton direct on +44 (0)1494 815306 or E-mail PeterBarton@PBMSconsultants.co.uk.
PBMS Consultants