Access DB Quotation Help - Remote Web access to DB

[Dave Smithz]

Hi There,

Having last developed an Access DB for a client about a year ago I have
today received a specification that I need to (today ideally) give an
indication of how much I would charge and what technology I would use etc.

The spec. is well laid out but there are two things it does note:
Remote access for employees
Remote access for resellers

In the spec there are basically 5 main categories / tables that the database
will need to consist of.

Now I last developed using Access 2000 and have never dabbled in webforms.
Also I have always developed that the database is going to be used by about
10 users who do not often access the data at the same time.

This time I think there could be up to 100 users and although only a few of
the main employees logged in at the same time, the resellers may be
accessing there records at the same time over the web.

I have always assumes that webforms in access would give me what I need, but
is access capable of handling this kind of level of use?
I have never used SQL server but for this sort of project should this be
what I am using. I am a competent software developer and should be able to
pick up SQL server if need be, but any guidance on this matter is
appreciated.

In general the database will consist of 5 main tables / categories / types
of information. There are a lot of reports they want for the database
including generating of invoices etc.

What other database solutions are there out there that the freelance
developer can use for the above sort of project.

TIA and Regards

Dave.

[Davis]

"Dave Smithz" <Spam Free> wrote in message news:<40********@news1.homechoice.co.uk>...

Hi There,

Having last developed an Access DB for a client about a year ago I have
today received a specification that I need to (today ideally) give an
indication of how much I would charge and what technology I would use etc.

The spec. is well laid out but there are two things it does note:
Remote access for employees
Remote access for resellers

In the spec there are basically 5 main categories / tables that the database
will need to consist of.

Now I last developed using Access 2000 and have never dabbled in webforms.
Also I have always developed that the database is going to be used by about
10 users who do not often access the data at the same time.

This time I think there could be up to 100 users and although only a few of
the main employees logged in at the same time, the resellers may be
accessing there records at the same time over the web.

I have always assumes that webforms in access would give me what I need, but
is access capable of handling this kind of level of use?
I have never used SQL server but for this sort of project should this be
what I am using. I am a competent software developer and should be able to
pick up SQL server if need be, but any guidance on this matter is
appreciated.

In general the database will consist of 5 main tables / categories / types
of information. There are a lot of reports they want for the database
including generating of invoices etc.

What other database solutions are there out there that the freelance
developer can use for the above sort of project.

TIA and Regards

Dave.

I think the answer depends upon the complexity of the user interface
forms. The backend can be replaced with SQL Server or MySQL, or other
database engines fairly easily if only 5 tables are involved and there
is nothing weird like blob data. If you have user interface forms
done in Access (5 or more) then you might want to preserve your
investment in those by continuing with SQL Server. I don't believe
that you could continue to use Access because you will need to change
the database reading methodology to a network read from a file read.

In terms of convering to Web forms, I've never done that in Access so
I can't comment. If you wanted to build HTML fill-in forms you could
use a CGI script or a server side technology like JDBC or J2EE to make
that happen. If cost is a big consideration keep things as simple and
cheap as possible.

More details would help although I know you're in a time crunch.

Cheers
Davis Swan
www.sqlmagic.com

[Lyle Fairfield]

"Dave Smithz" <Spam Free> wrote in news:40********@news1.homechoice.co.uk:

Hi There,

Having last developed an Access DB for a client about a year ago I have
today received a specification that I need to (today ideally) give an
indication of how much I would charge and what technology I would use
etc.

The spec. is well laid out but there are two things it does note:
Remote access for employees
Remote access for resellers

In the spec there are basically 5 main categories / tables that the
database will need to consist of.

Now I last developed using Access 2000 and have never dabbled in
webforms. Also I have always developed that the database is going to be
used by about 10 users who do not often access the data at the same
time.

This time I think there could be up to 100 users and although only a few
of the main employees logged in at the same time, the resellers may be
accessing there records at the same time over the web.

I have always assumes that webforms in access would give me what I need,
but is access capable of handling this kind of level of use?
I have never used SQL server but for this sort of project should this be
what I am using. I am a competent software developer and should be able
to pick up SQL server if need be, but any guidance on this matter is
appreciated.

In general the database will consist of 5 main tables / categories /
types of information. There are a lot of reports they want for the
database including generating of invoices etc.

What other database solutions are there out there that the freelance
developer can use for the above sort of project.

TIA and Regards

Dave.

Regardless of which technology you use your biggest issue may be:

"There are a lot of reports they want for the database including generating
of invoices etc."

An ADP gives the magic of Access reports. Just plain HTML-ASP or HTA
applications do not.

I've been told that ASP.Net includes Crystal Reports. A colleague tried
Crystal Reports a few years ago but I was not satisfied as it seemed to me
I had to re-design the db to comply with Crystal's needs. That being said,
it should be noted that the results were abosolutely gorgeous, and the
problems may have reflected our inexperience with the tehcnology.

The report issue is crucial for any web-based application that needs them.
Somtimes I (and perhaps other Access Developers) forget how wonderful
Access Reports are.

--
Lyle
(for e-mail refer to http://ffdba.com/contacts.htm)

[John Winterbottom]

"Lyle Fairfield" <Mi************@Invalid.Com> wrote in message
news:Xn*******************@130.133.1.4...

An ADP gives the magic of Access reports. Just plain HTML-ASP or HTA
applications do not.

I've been told that ASP.Net includes Crystal Reports. A colleague tried
Crystal Reports a few years ago but I was not satisfied as it seemed to me
I had to re-design the db to comply with Crystal's needs. That being said,
it should be noted that the results were abosolutely gorgeous, and the
problems may have reflected our inexperience with the tehcnology.

The report issue is crucial for any web-based application that needs them.
Somtimes I (and perhaps other Access Developers) forget how wonderful
Access Reports are.

I'll second that. With some ingenuity I don't think there can be much that
is beyond their capability.

If you're using sql server you might try the new Reporting Services for SQL
2000 for web reporting. I've just downloaded a copy to do some testing.
Right now we use Crystal but I'd love to find something that's easier to use
and especially to deploy, and doesn't choke with more than a few users.

[Lyle Fairfield]

"John Winterbottom" <as******@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:2g************@uni-berlin.de:

"Lyle Fairfield" <Mi************@Invalid.Com> wrote in message
news:Xn*******************@130.133.1.4...

An ADP gives the magic of Access reports. Just plain HTML-ASP or HTA
applications do not.

I've been told that ASP.Net includes Crystal Reports. A colleague tried
Crystal Reports a few years ago but I was not satisfied as it seemed to
me I had to re-design the db to comply with Crystal's needs. That being
said, it should be noted that the results were abosolutely gorgeous,
and the problems may have reflected our inexperience with the
tehcnology.

The report issue is crucial for any web-based application that needs
them. Somtimes I (and perhaps other Access Developers) forget how
wonderful Access Reports are.

I'll second that. With some ingenuity I don't think there can be much
that is beyond their capability.

If you're using sql server you might try the new Reporting Services for
SQL 2000 for web reporting. I've just downloaded a copy to do some
testing. Right now we use Crystal but I'd love to find something that's
easier to use and especially to deploy, and doesn't choke with more than
a few users.

"Reporting Services for SQL 2000"

Thanks for the reference John. I'll check this out ... in my spare time,
sigh.

--
Lyle
(for e-mail refer to http://ffdba.com/contacts.htm)

[John Winterbottom]

"Lyle Fairfield" <Mi************@Invalid.Com> wrote in message
news:Xn*******************@130.133.1.4...

"Reporting Services for SQL 2000"

Thanks for the reference John. I'll check this out ... in my spare time,
sigh.

more info at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...l/sql0625.mspx

--
your web site looks impressive btw . Didn't realize you were in Burlington.
We're just up the road in Waterdown.

[Dave Smithz]

"Lyle Fairfield" <Mi************@Invalid.Com> wrote in message

Regardless of which technology you use your biggest issue may be:

"There are a lot of reports they want for the database including generating of invoices etc."

An ADP gives the magic of Access reports. Just plain HTML-ASP or HTA
applications do not.

I've been told that ASP.Net includes Crystal Reports. A colleague tried
Crystal Reports a few years ago but I was not satisfied as it seemed to me
I had to re-design the db to comply with Crystal's needs. That being said,
it should be noted that the results were abosolutely gorgeous, and the
problems may have reflected our inexperience with the tehcnology.

The report issue is crucial for any web-based application that needs them.
Somtimes I (and perhaps other Access Developers) forget how wonderful
Access Reports are.

Thanks for the comments everyone. In the end I submitted my estimation
(which was to be honest based on a laymen's database specification). I
decided to go for the sensible balances approach rather then the try and
undercut everyone else

It is the reports that I think make access very good. I have mysql
experience, but then I think of all the work I would have to do go generate
reports. I'm hungry to get back into an Access and hope this contract comes
through, but apparently they have had a huge response.

I would also be interested to know what people are charging as a day rate as
Access developers in the UK. Any comments?

Thanks again.

[Lyle Fairfield]

"John Winterbottom" <as******@hotmail.com> wrote in news:2gut45F726kcU1@uni-
berlin.de:

your web site looks impressive btw . Didn't realize you were in Burlington.
We're just up the road in Waterdown.

Driving through at 3:00 pm today ... let me know where to wave. :-)

--
Lyle
(for e-mail refer to http://ffdba.com/contacts.htm)