SQL Server 2005

[txlibertygirl]

When I first started working on Access 2010, I understood that I can only do networked access instead of online since I did not have database online to use. I was scrolling around in my computer (Vista 32 bit) and I noticed that I have SQL Server 2005. I do not even know what exactly it does but have basic understand that it can act as database for online access? But I am not sure if I can use version 2005? When I googled SQL Server and Access, it always mention SQL Server 2008 with Access. Does that mean I cannot use SQL Server 2005 as I have?

Amber
Newbie

 

[Galaxiom]

Access is actually more of an application development tool than a database. It includes a database design capability that interacts with a database through a database engine (JET in older versions and now ACE).

SQL Server is a database engine that provides more powerful facilities than JET/ACE. It is considerably more tolerant of interuptions and can manage many more users with much larger databases.

It come in several varieties from the free Express version up to Enterprise. The one on your PC would be Express. It has a limit of 4GB databases, one processor and 1GB of memory usage.

Access and other programs work with SQL Server via an interface, either ODBC or the newer more complex OLEDB connectors. So long as you have the right connector any versions can work together. However there are some fieldtypes in SQL Server that don't translate into earlier versions of Access. With A2010 and SQL2005 you should be OK.

SQL Server can be an online database but exposing a database directly to the internet is not something one should do without knowing a lot about security. Generally it is better to interact with the database via a web server using html based forms. Even then the developer should have a good grasp of how to manage security in this environment.