Form access over the Internet

[Tony Williams]

We have a database that sits on a desktop machine. The database hold data
received from about 50 companies. We have a website and we are wondering
whether it would be possible for the 50 companies to submit the data using
an Access form directly into the database through our website. This is scary
territory for us but a simple outline of the process would be useful to see
if we're upto it?
Many thanks
Tony

 

[SpookiePower]

I dont think that you can access the backend from
the frontend, using the http protocol. If it is that you
want to try.



My PhotoGallery
www.photo.activewebsite.dk

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

Access forms work only in Access, Tony, you'll need to use something else
for web forms.

 

[Tony Williams]

Thanks guys. I'm just away on holiday but if either of you could suggest a
starting point for us to look at as an alternative I can check it out on my
return.
Many thanks
Tony

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

You mentioned an existing web site, so the best starting point is probably
to determine what server-side technologies your existing server or hosting
service supports.

If your developers are familiar with Microsoft technologies, and if your
server or hosting service supports it, check out ASP.NET ...

http://www.asp.net/Default.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=1
http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/

 

[PC Datasheet]

Sending the data to your website actually does nothing for you since your
database is local. How is the data being sent to you now? Perhaps all that
needs done is to automate that process.

An option would be to have the 50 companies email you their data as Excel
files. If you have a dedicated email address, nothing but the Excel files
would arrive in your inbox. A VBA procedure could then be written to go to
the inbox, save the Excel files to a dedicated folder on your computer and
then import the data in the Excel files to Access table(s). A key to making
this work is to use a well designed file naming system for the Excel files
sent by the 50 Companies and saved to the dedicated folder.