Question

Access on Server

Asked by: schmir1

I'm starting a new Access project and would like some input.  I'm thinking of putting the entire Access database on a file server, not dividing it up into front and back ends.  Can multiple users access the database this way?  When I do updates I guess I would lock it and put the updates in.  Anything else that would help me.

Note:  The database will have about 6 users to start.

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Asked On
2009-09-03 at 08:36:57ID24704947
Topic

Access Architecture/Design

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: jmoss111Posted on 2009-09-03 at 10:25:07ID: 25252846

It's bad practice and you will have probems. Do the split and put a separate front end on each users workstation

 

by: boag2000Posted on 2009-09-03 at 14:00:27ID: 25254899

<I'm thinking of putting the entire Access database on a file server, not dividing it up into front and back ends.>

Can it be done?
Sure.

But as jmoss111 states, you will be asking for trouble.

The least of which will be constant, annoying "concurrent user" errors.
The worst of which will be the database corrupting and not being recoverable.
:-O

There are many advantages to splitting a database that far outweigh the simplicity of the "one Shared Database File" approach.
;-)

(Just curious, ...any reason why you did not consider splitting the DB originally?)

JeffCoachman

 

by: schmir1Posted on 2009-09-03 at 14:05:02ID: 25254935

Just simplicity.  I could update the db on the server and all the users are updated.  Other people here use databases on servers that way and I was just wondering if I was making life harder then it should be.  Sounds like there are not a lot of other upsides to it.

 

by: boag2000Posted on 2009-09-03 at 14:28:38ID: 25255142

Actually, if you think about it, it is simpler to update a split DB.

Because you don't have to hunt around for users still in the DB and boot them out gracefully.
You also can upgrade the Front Ends on one machine while other users are still using the database on their machines.


In other words, with a single DB, the DB must be down for all users (unusable) when you are upgrading.
In a split DB, you can upgrade some users while other users continue to work.

    Time=Money

;-)

Jeff

 

by: schmir1Posted on 2009-09-08 at 07:06:35ID: 25281977

You are right.  I just needed some confirmation.  Thanks for giving it.

 

by: schmir1Posted on 2009-09-08 at 07:07:06ID: 31624488

Excellent answer as always.

 

by: boag2000Posted on 2009-09-08 at 10:08:11ID: 25283925

;-)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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