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General discussion

MS Access, Access Data Pages, Cross-platform compatability

by logangreer Feb 22, 2007 6:06AM PST

The small company I work for is currently developing a database in MS Access 2003. Those developing the DB are only familiar with the GUI of Access and know nothing of coding languages.

I am the "Sales Communications Coordinator" which includes some web design, but I am a novice at best.

Some of the computers on our network are Mac, including mine and some very high management peoples'. They came to me looking for a cross-platform compatible solution to Access Database access and input.

My immediate opinion was that surely the database can be manipulated via a browser. I have done a little research and found that Access can in fact create Access Data Pages, which allow users to view and input data in the database from the comfort of their browser. However, Microsoft has made sure that you can only use IE to do this.

(1) Can Access be used in a way that allows cross-platform compatible viewing and input of data into the DB?

(2) Is there a GUI that is similar to Access that would allow our DB Grunts to make the DB in MySQL?

(3) If we did make the DB in MySQL, what would we need to create browser-accessible pages that allowed dynamic viewing and input?

Please let me know if I am totally off-track here. They are all looking to me for answers, but I know almost nothing about this. We are big fans of Open Source (both in philosophy and price), so solutions of that kind would be preferred, although I need to know all solutions.

We are aware of Parallels and Boot Camp, but both are cumbersome in the business world, at least ours.

Thanks so much. I have been banging my head on my desk trying to figure this out.

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Sounds painful.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 22, 2007 6:21AM PST

First let me share I use MySQL. I have fielded projects with my last one being a factory floor test system which logs the results in ... a MySQL database. For that system I used the combo of VB6, MyODBC and MySQL. You might want to look to the web for MYSQL WEB DATA ENTRY solutions but Access is a dead duck for multiuser from my experience. I've seen too many corrupt databases so I never would wish that on anyone plus I'd never get another job if I use Access. But then again many keep trying. I can only guess that it works ok for single users.

If I was to go cross platform I'd use PHP and some backend server. Or look at REALBASIC plus MySQL.

Best of luck,

Bob

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Thanks. Anybody else?
by logangreer Feb 23, 2007 1:50AM PST

Is this the only option?

I was hoping that someone has run into this issue as well.

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Yes. I've dealt with this issue.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 23, 2007 2:06AM PST

The code is downright simple to do data entry. Reports can still be done in Access if the stack holders can't look at other solutions.

Given the task of a data entry screen the install of MySQL would be all of about 10 minutes. Then some VB data entry app takes less than an hour for say the usual Name, Address, etc page.

Which makes you wonder why people don't dive in and get it done?

PHP and a web entry takes me a little longer since I don't do that often enough.

My thought here is maybe you don't have a programmer in the group?

Bob

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Oops, I meant stakeholder.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 23, 2007 2:07AM PST
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