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MVP Question (database Design & Server Requirements)
Thanks in advance.
I work at a wholeseller, we currently use a unix server with a unix based software package for invoicing and wharehouse management. However extremely expensive and customer support is bad. We are looking into buy a New server running windows small business 2003 our company has 5 employees. Question 1. I want to build a new database in Microsoft Access to handle our Inventory and Invoicing, AR and AP. Is this a good approach? Any Sujestions or prebuilt templates? Question 2. I would like to eventually provide real time stock reports to our web page created in ASP. Is This Possible and what would I need Server wise? Question 3. How would I set up my database to be used by 5 or more users? And what is the limit on Access? What server requirements are need? Question 4. Access Database is there a size limitation? Question 5. If I want to buy support for access and what is the yearly cost Question 6. Can I migrate Unix info in Access. Question 7. I have customers in China (They Speak English) Can they access the database and make changes to data? Thanks Ray |
#2
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Answers embedded.
-- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia. Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "rayrock" wrote in message ... Thanks in advance. I work at a wholeseller, we currently use a unix server with a unix based software package for invoicing and wharehouse management. However extremely expensive and customer support is bad. We are looking into buy a New server running windows small business 2003 our company has 5 employees. Question 1. I want to build a new database in Microsoft Access to handle our Inventory and Invoicing, AR and AP. Is this a good approach? Any Sujestions or prebuilt templates? Sounds feasible. You will need an understanding of normalization to ensure the database is relationally correct. Question 2. I would like to eventually provide real time stock reports to our web page created in ASP. Is This Possible and what would I need Server wise? Doable. Might be worth considering whether it is worth creating the forms in Access as well as creating the web-based forms. If they are both very similar, it sounds like doubling up. If the web-based stuff is just a small subset, the Access forms could be worth the effort. Question 3. How would I set up my database to be used by 5 or more users? And what is the limit on Access? What server requirements are need? Theoretical limit is 255 users. In practice a couple of dozen users is no problem in a well designed mdb. Question 4. Access Database is there a size limitation? 2GB file size is the major limitation. In practice, Access is suitable unless: - You envision millions of records in some tables. - The database must operate 24 x 7 (can't come off-line for a backup). - You have many dozens of users. - Security is a serious issue. (Access security is a padlock, not a vault.) Question 5. If I want to buy support for access and what is the yearly cost Depends who you buy it through, and what you're after. Question 6. Can I migrate Unix info in Access. You could read/write the data, but not use the Access interface (forms reports) in Unix. Question 7. I have customers in China (They Speak English) Can they access the database and make changes to data? Using the ASP.NET they'll be fine, but not trying to use Access forms and reports directly over an unstable network. Access is great on wired ethernet, but doesn't handle any unstable network (not even WiFi) unless you run the sessions on the server (e.g. Citrix, Terminal Server.) |
#3
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Thanks for response.
The access database will be on the server, what would I need to install on the users machine and how would make it point to the database on the server? Speed will be an issue on the database will access be fine with 5 users? And is there anything I should get special for the server (i.e. Ram) I know 2 gig is a huge file, but what if it go's past that? Also how big can a single table get? The support I would look for is just a call here or there I know that a call per issue but I think I would want a yearly subscrip for unlimited calls. Do you know of any templetes or pre-constructed databases? Ray "Allen Browne" wrote: Answers embedded. -- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia. Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "rayrock" wrote in message ... Thanks in advance. I work at a wholeseller, we currently use a unix server with a unix based software package for invoicing and wharehouse management. However extremely expensive and customer support is bad. We are looking into buy a New server running windows small business 2003 our company has 5 employees. Question 1. I want to build a new database in Microsoft Access to handle our Inventory and Invoicing, AR and AP. Is this a good approach? Any Sujestions or prebuilt templates? Sounds feasible. You will need an understanding of normalization to ensure the database is relationally correct. Question 2. I would like to eventually provide real time stock reports to our web page created in ASP. Is This Possible and what would I need Server wise? Doable. Might be worth considering whether it is worth creating the forms in Access as well as creating the web-based forms. If they are both very similar, it sounds like doubling up. If the web-based stuff is just a small subset, the Access forms could be worth the effort. Question 3. How would I set up my database to be used by 5 or more users? And what is the limit on Access? What server requirements are need? Theoretical limit is 255 users. In practice a couple of dozen users is no problem in a well designed mdb. Question 4. Access Database is there a size limitation? 2GB file size is the major limitation. In practice, Access is suitable unless: - You envision millions of records in some tables. - The database must operate 24 x 7 (can't come off-line for a backup). - You have many dozens of users. - Security is a serious issue. (Access security is a padlock, not a vault.) Question 5. If I want to buy support for access and what is the yearly cost Depends who you buy it through, and what you're after. Question 6. Can I migrate Unix info in Access. You could read/write the data, but not use the Access interface (forms reports) in Unix. Question 7. I have customers in China (They Speak English) Can they access the database and make changes to data? Using the ASP.NET they'll be fine, but not trying to use Access forms and reports directly over an unstable network. Access is great on wired ethernet, but doesn't handle any unstable network (not even WiFi) unless you run the sessions on the server (e.g. Citrix, Terminal Server.) |
#4
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Interspersed replies.
-- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia. Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "rayrock" wrote in message ... Thanks for response. The access database will be on the server, what would I need to install on the users machine and how would make it point to the database on the server? Split the database into a back end (mdb data file, containing only the tables, residing on the server) and a front end (mde program file, installed on each workstation, linking to the data file on the server.) If that's a new idea, see: Split your MDB file into data and application at: http://allenbrowne.com/ser-01.html Speed will be an issue on the database will access be fine with 5 users? 5 users is nothing to Access. A well-normalized data structure, with appropriate indexing and a correctly designed interface (no unnecessary dirtying) on a stable network handles 20 or even 50 users almost instantaneously. And is there anything I should get special for the server (i.e. Ram) Typical server stuff. Hardware is pretty inexpensive these days, so the network is usually the bottleneck. I know 2 gig is a huge file, but what if it go's past that? Also how big can a single table get? If you anticipate more than 2GB of text data ahead of time, you're talking tables with many millions of records. In that case, consider using the SQL Server engine to store the data, and Access as the front end. The 2GB limit is per file, so in theory you can store each table in its own mdb, so that each table can be up to 2GB. You have that up your sleeve if you run into trouble, but it would not be a good way to plan initially. The size of the Access database will blow out quickly if you store binary data (pictures, sounds, ...) in the table. However, if you store links to these objects instead of embedding them, 2GB is a lot of textual data. The support I would look for is just a call here or there I know that a call per issue but I think I would want a yearly subscrip for unlimited calls. Lots of people in the business. Do you know of any templetes or pre-constructed databases? There are more copies of Access around than any other database in history, and there is no way for us developers to keep track of them all. We usually encourage potential clients to talk to others in their own industry, to see what they are using and if there are any off-the-shelf solutions available. For sample data structures, there are lots of examples at: http://www.databaseanswers.com/data_models/index.htm If you decide your needs are specific and you need someone to write it for you, make sure you have a well-defined spec, covering exactly what is to be included. If you work in IT, you probably know that already. HTH "Allen Browne" wrote: Answers embedded. "rayrock" wrote in message ... Thanks in advance. I work at a wholeseller, we currently use a unix server with a unix based software package for invoicing and wharehouse management. However extremely expensive and customer support is bad. We are looking into buy a New server running windows small business 2003 our company has 5 employees. Question 1. I want to build a new database in Microsoft Access to handle our Inventory and Invoicing, AR and AP. Is this a good approach? Any Sujestions or prebuilt templates? Sounds feasible. You will need an understanding of normalization to ensure the database is relationally correct. Question 2. I would like to eventually provide real time stock reports to our web page created in ASP. Is This Possible and what would I need Server wise? Doable. Might be worth considering whether it is worth creating the forms in Access as well as creating the web-based forms. If they are both very similar, it sounds like doubling up. If the web-based stuff is just a small subset, the Access forms could be worth the effort. Question 3. How would I set up my database to be used by 5 or more users? And what is the limit on Access? What server requirements are need? Theoretical limit is 255 users. In practice a couple of dozen users is no problem in a well designed mdb. Question 4. Access Database is there a size limitation? 2GB file size is the major limitation. In practice, Access is suitable unless: - You envision millions of records in some tables. - The database must operate 24 x 7 (can't come off-line for a backup). - You have many dozens of users. - Security is a serious issue. (Access security is a padlock, not a vault.) Question 5. If I want to buy support for access and what is the yearly cost Depends who you buy it through, and what you're after. Question 6. Can I migrate Unix info in Access. You could read/write the data, but not use the Access interface (forms reports) in Unix. Question 7. I have customers in China (They Speak English) Can they access the database and make changes to data? Using the ASP.NET they'll be fine, but not trying to use Access forms and reports directly over an unstable network. Access is great on wired ethernet, but doesn't handle any unstable network (not even WiFi) unless you run the sessions on the server (e.g. Citrix, Terminal Server.) |
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