Access 2010: The Missing Manual

Converting an Existing Database to a Web Database

Creating a web database is easy…if you start from scratch. If you want to take an existing database and transform it into a SharePoint-loving web database, you face a steeper climb. First, here’s the bad news: To convert an ordinary database into a web database, all the tables your database contains must be compatible with the rules of SharePoint. But chances are that your table is full of tiny details that don’t fit. Before you can upload your database to the Web, you need to solve each of these issues.

Now, here’s the happier side of the story: You don’t need to worry about any of the other objects in your database. That’s because every query, form, report, macro, and code routine that you’ve written is completely valid in a web database, because it’s a client object.

With this in mind, you’re ready to get started. In the next section, you’ll take a cold, hard look at your database, and assess if it’s ready for the Web.

Checking Web Compatibility

Access includes a tool that can test to see if your database tables meet the web database rules. You can run this tool two ways:

• You can check a single table. To do this, right-click a table in the navigation pane and choose Check Web Compatibility.

• You can check all the tables in your database. To do this, choose File→Save & Publish, click “Publish to Access Services” (in the middle column), and click Run Compatibility Checker (in the rightmost column).

Either way, if Access finds any errors, ...