MS Access Data Project Application (ADP)
This approach "Internet enables" the MS Access application, but does cause performance
issues and is expensive to maintain.
An MS Access Data Project (ADP) replaces the native MS Access Jet Engine datastore
with a SQL Server database. This configuration requires that all queries in the
MS Access application be replaced with SQL Views, Functions and
Stored Procedures
(the most appropriate SQL technique). Users access the individual MS Access forms via a standard web browser (e.g.
Internet Explorer).
MS Access Data Project Scorecard |
# End Users |
<100 |
Supports continual use |
Deployment |
LAN and Internet |
MS Access Runtime and/or IE Browser availability and version issues |
Performance |
Good |
SQL Server design-dependent |
Reliability |
Excellent |
SQL Server design-dependent |
Data Integrity |
Excellent |
Assuming proper use of SQL Server database constraints and keys |
Security |
Excellent |
SQL Server-level security controls |
Data Limit |
Unlimited |
SQL Server datastore |
Maintenance |
Med |
Need to maintain MS Access |
# of Records |
Unlimited |
SQL Server datastore |
Internet Access |
Yes |
Remote access will impede performance and reliability |
MS Access Data Project Application (ADP) Limitations
Developing MS Access Data Projects does make the MS Access application "a web based
database available on the Internet," however this approach does require that all
Users run the MS ADP application through the MS Internet Explorer browser, and each
User must have a locally installed copy of MS Access (or the appropriate MS Access
Runtime engine) for the web-based database application to function properly.
MS ADP applications are limited primarily due to more complex deployment issues
e.g. MS Access Runtime and/or IE Browser availability and version issues. While
overcoming some of the inherent MS Access multi-user deployment limitations, the
MS Access Data Project approach can also suffer from poor performance (vs. standard
web based database applications) due primarily to the start up of the local instance
of MS Access. Data security, reliability and integrity are Excellent, albeit entirely
dependent on the SQL Server design.