Webform Database Recommendation

  • Thread starter Thread starter tom
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tom

I have a local Excel spreadsheet I am potentially migrating to MS
Access. The thought was to use Access on the workstation for data-entry
and subsequent generation of mailing labels and other simple reports. I
also want to gather data from an internet webform--potentially, the
data will be entered into a MySQL database.

What is the best method to combine these two endeavors? That is: how
can I have workstation access to the database for manual
insert/update/delete, while allowing the webform to insert new records
into the database?

Thanks-
Tom
 
I have a local Excel spreadsheet I am
potentially migrating to MS Access.
The thought was to use Access on the
workstation for data-entry and subse-
quent generation of mailing labels and
other simple reports. I also want to gather
data from an internet webform--potentially, the
data will be entered into a MySQL database.
Click to expand...

So far, you seem to be talking about _two_ databases, a Jet (the default DB
engine that comes with Access) database and a MySQL database. But it is not
clear whether you hope to synchronize these two DBs, so they will have
(nearly) identical content and structure, or whether they each have
different tables that, together, make up a whole.
What is the best method to combine
these two endeavors?
Click to expand...

"Best", like "beauty" is in the "eye of the beholder".
. . . That is: how
can I have workstation access to the
database for manual insert / update /
delete, while allowing the webform to
insert new records into the database?
Click to expand...

This is going to depend on your clarification of the first part. Frankly, I
don't know any good, easy way to synchronize a local Access DB and a remote
MySQL DB. But, finally, you'll need to clarify how the workstation you
describe is connected to the web server... via the Internet, or via a Local
Area Network (LAN). In either case, how much control do _you_ (or your
project) have over that web server?

As "Ross for Boss" said, "The devil's in the details."

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP
 
MSDE is a free alternative to mySql.. but SQL 2005 express is really
going to rock

you can hook up an Access Data Project for more complex Update, Edit,
Deletes.. and just do data entry via a webpage
 
Ideally, I would like to to have just one database that can be
acccessed from two locations--the local workstation over the internet
(not a LAN), and from an internet webform hosted by an ISP. If that
doesn't work, then I would need two databases that can be synchronized
(via automatic, daily batch updates?)

Again, in the scope of this, I will be developing mailing labels using
this database; I want to develop these labels efficiently and to be
easily-maintainable (e.g., using Avery 2980 label templates in MS Word
mail merge), or something similar. I will also need to develop basic
reports based on different criteria.

Thanks!
 
MSDE is a free alternative to mySql.. but
SQL 2005 express is really going to rock

you can hook up an Access Data Project
for more complex Update, Edit,
Deletes.. and just do data entry via a webpage
Click to expand...

MSDE has a "throttling mechanism" that makes it unsuitable for large
audiences; SQL 2005 Express does not have a similar "throttling mechanism",
but has its own limitations, as well. And, just for the record, MySQL is not
free for commercial use -- only for personal use.

Finally, despite your fondness for ADP, the knowledgeable Microsoft insiders
(including the Product Manager of ADP and ADO in a previous version of
Access) no longer recommend that over a standard MDB and ODBC.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP
 
If your ISP supports Virtual Private Networks (VPN), you could access the
server database via an Access front end, over the Internet. The most
successful approach to that would require using Microsoft Terminal Services,
and that would only be available on a server running Windows. I do not know
how many ISPs make TS available, but I know it normally is run within an
organization, on the organization's own server.

You would need to discuss that with the ISP (if they are hosting websites,
some may prefer the term Internet Presence Provider, abbreviated IPP). You
would also need to determine what technology your ISP supports for web
applications -- they may or may not have the Front Page Extensions which
would be necessary to use Front Page and the Database Interaction Wizard.

It is possible to download and upload the entire database, if it is of
modest size, but there are drawbacks to such an approach -- just too many
opportunities for something to go wrong.

You may have introduced too many "qualifications" for a good or simple
solution using Access as the front end.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP
 
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