Thanks for your response, John. I expected as much. However, may I delve into
your answer a little further? Although I mentioned we would consider a "web
front end" for ease of use of the database, we would probably only want or
need this to view information that is in the database (similar to setting up
"views" in SharePoint lists) and for editing/updating entries (rows). We
would be happy with the database creation and administration to be done from
within MS Access.

I was wondering how we could have databases created and tested in MS Access
and then have them hosted on SQL Server 2005 - but with a web front end?
Perhaps linking to the database with SharePoint or MOSS?

Apologies if I am making the question more complicated... we just don't have
enough "enterprise-level" database experience in house. Creating the
databases in MS Access, editing and updating the databases in MS Access is
quite straightforward. It's getting them created in Access and then hosted
and accessed via other means that we are enquiring about (without the need
for software or web development skills).


Thanks.


itman


"John W. Vinson" wrote:

On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:27:02 -0700, itman
wrote:

There is some need in our organisation for databases. Users are expecting to
see "nice" web pages to query databases and display results. They may also be
expecting to add and edit information in the database through some kind of
web-based view. Is Microsoft Access a solution we should be considering? If a
database is created in Access how can it be updated and queries by users
without providing them with a copy of MS Access?

Access is not (by itself) very web-friendly. Data interaction in Access is
typically done using Forms, which (functionally) resemble webpages but are
embedded within an Access database. Using A2007 you can get a (free) Runtime
version of Access which lets users interact with and update the database, but
not to change the design or structure of the database or the forms and
reports.

If you really want a web browser as the interface, A2007 is *starting* in that
direction and I understand that the upcoming version will do a lot more; but
you may do better to store the data in SQL/Server (SQL Express is free!) and
use Visual Studio or some other appropriate code to design your own web-based
app.
--

John W. Vinson [MVP]