Connecting the Access database via the Internet (1 Viewer)

[shamal]

Welcome
How can an Access database be linked over the Internet to different regions?

 

[theDBguy]

Better to link the Access FE to a web stored RDBMS data source. For example, migrate your Access BE to an online SQL Server.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

This is a common question.

The short answer is, by itself, it can't. The protocol used by Access does not tolerate the behavior of wide-area networks (WANs) and multi-hop data transfers. You essentially guarantee corrupted database files when using Internet connections.

The workaround is, don't put Access over the Internet. Use a solution such as RDP, which CAN tolerate WANs, or use CITRIX, which can do the networking via a commercial product.

And theDBguy's suggestion would also work, since the ODBC protocols can also tolerate WANs better than Access's SMB protocol.

 

[GPGeorge]

Welcome
How can an Access database be linked over the Internet to different regions?

Keep in mind that an Access database application is really composed of three components:

1) The data layer. That is to say, the tables in which data is stored.
2) The interface layer. That is to say, the forms, reports and supporting queries through which users can interact with the data.
3) The logic layer. That is to say, the code which manipulates both data and interface programmatically.

In the typical case where people say they want to "put Access on the internet", they are thinking primarily of making the data available, at least in most cases. Your remote users need to have a common data source "in the cloud" so that they can share it. However, the other two components, the interface and logic, do not need to be deployed that way.

In one deployment scheme, you use an online database, such as a remotely hosted SQL Server or other database engine to which all users connect. Each users has a copy of the interface and logic, i.e. the Access accdb Front End, which links to those remotely hosted tables.

In the other, all of the elements of the database application are stored in a location to which users can connect using RDP or another method as The_Doc_Man suggested.

Which method is more appropriate to your circumstances depends on factors such as the availability of infrastructure to support them.

 

[Pat Hartman]

How can an Access database be linked over the Internet to different regions?

Access is not optimized to work over the internet. The best, most stable, solution is Citrix or RD. Cloud drives are a no go. PERIOD.

You may have some success using Azure if your application is built to take advantage of server side processing. However, just taking a random app you built without knowing anything at all about how SQL Server works, you will find the performance to be abysmally slow to the point of being useless whereas, if your app works fine on the LAN, it will be even better using Citrix or RD.

What is your actual objective? Is this a new app or an old app you want to convert? Keep in mind that an Access FE is not something that you distribute to people outside of your work group. It is only useful in a closed environment unlike web apps which can be used by anyone with log in credentials as long as they have a compatible browser.

 

[Edgar_]

Firebase that thing through unbound forms and have a happy life, OP.

No surprises, just fun. PM me if you want a sample database.