Access™ 2007 VBA Programmer's Reference

Chapter 19. Understanding Client-Server Development with VBA

Access makes it easy to create applications that interact with other database formats and enterprise-level database servers. Unfortunately, the easiest methods are not always the best, and incorrect choices can have serious long-term effects on the design, stability, maintenance, and overall success of a project. A thorough understanding of how Access interacts with other databases and the various alternatives available for developers is critical to making the best design decisions for any given application.

In a typical business environment, Access database applications tend to sprout up because some individual or small group needs functionality and creates an Access database to implement a viable solution. Other people or groups notice the application's usefulness and decide to use the solution as well. Someone may even split the data tables into a backend database and link the tables in the front-end application so that large numbers of users can use a local copy on their machines and connect to the tables stored on a central server. Before long, what began as a personal database application is now shared on the network server, contains hundreds of megabytes of business data, is used on a daily basis by 50 or so people, and requires 2 or 3 people just to maintain and administrate the database. The application has become an unintended, albeit critical, piece of the company's business process.

The solution is cost effective. ...