ms-access serve both desktop and the website

I have a situation which is like this: we are a social group, and I currently
have a database hold members, sponsors, events and various other info on a MS
Access database which is maintained from a desktop PC. We are going to have
a website. The website should allow people to register to become a member
(enter their personal info from a webpage into the database, although the
members info can still be entered into the db from the desktop by the db
admin). The website should also display events information which is coming
from the database ( the event info is entered into the db from the desktop).
So the majority of the update to the DB is from the desktop, but some
updates of the members table from the website is required. Can Access db
provide solution for this? If it can, what is the programming language or
webdesign tool to use to access the MS Access db from the webpage?

I got an email from the support of the hosting company and they told me that
this is a bad idea. the reason is "One of the main issues is the fact that
Access locks the database while the site has an open connection to the db.
This means you can't overwrite the database whilst the site has it open.
Generally the only solution is for us to manually delete the lock file, which
could end up being quite frequent in your situation." And they suggest me to
use mysql. But I guess that means we will have to re-write the front end?

Not that this is my area, but I have been involved in a similar project using
access as a backend database serving pages on the internet. I would
investigate having the database on the web server and a front end on a web
page designed using .asp (active server pages). Then you just password
protect certain .asp pages and make others available to all. You could also
use the original front end (if you have split the database) to connect to the
backend on the server. A fair bit of development in regards to the .asp is
required though and you have to know what you are doing.

Good luck.

"yuyu" wrote:

I have a situation which is like this: we are a social group, and I currently
have a database hold members, sponsors, events and various other info on a MS
Access database which is maintained from a desktop PC. We are going to have
a website. The website should allow people to register to become a member
(enter their personal info from a webpage into the database, although the
members info can still be entered into the db from the desktop by the db
admin). The website should also display events information which is coming
from the database ( the event info is entered into the db from the desktop).
So the majority of the update to the DB is from the desktop, but some
updates of the members table from the website is required. Can Access db
provide solution for this? If it can, what is the programming language or
webdesign tool to use to access the MS Access db from the webpage?

I got an email from the support of the hosting company and they told me that
this is a bad idea. the reason is "One of the main issues is the fact that
Access locks the database while the site has an open connection to the db.
This means you can't overwrite the database whilst the site has it open.
Generally the only solution is for us to manually delete the lock file, which
could end up being quite frequent in your situation." And they suggest me to
use mysql. But I guess that means we will have to re-write the front end?

Thanks Dylan.

I do like to keep the current front end, as it is like a small office
system. Could you explain how does this split the db works? split it into
two? one on the server and one on the web server? How do I keep them
synchronized?

And do you have problems with the Access db locking? If it is true that you
can't overwrite the database whilst a site has it open, does this also means
that it is not possible to update the db from more than one web browsers?

Thanks.

yuyu


"Dylan Moran" wrote:

Not that this is my area, but I have been involved in a similar project using
access as a backend database serving pages on the internet. I would
investigate having the database on the web server and a front end on a web
page designed using .asp (active server pages). Then you just password
protect certain .asp pages and make others available to all. You could also
use the original front end (if you have split the database) to connect to the
backend on the server. A fair bit of development in regards to the .asp is
required though and you have to know what you are doing.

Good luck.

"yuyu" wrote:

I have a situation which is like this: we are a social group, and I currently
have a database hold members, sponsors, events and various other info on a MS
Access database which is maintained from a desktop PC. We are going to have
a website. The website should allow people to register to become a member
(enter their personal info from a webpage into the database, although the
members info can still be entered into the db from the desktop by the db
admin). The website should also display events information which is coming
from the database ( the event info is entered into the db from the desktop).
So the majority of the update to the DB is from the desktop, but some
updates of the members table from the website is required. Can Access db
provide solution for this? If it can, what is the programming language or
webdesign tool to use to access the MS Access db from the webpage?

I got an email from the support of the hosting company and they told me that
this is a bad idea. the reason is "One of the main issues is the fact that
Access locks the database while the site has an open connection to the db.
This means you can't overwrite the database whilst the site has it open.
Generally the only solution is for us to manually delete the lock file, which
could end up being quite frequent in your situation." And they suggest me to
use mysql. But I guess that means we will have to re-write the front end?

"yuyu" wrote:

Thanks Dylan.

I do like to keep the current front end, as it is like a small office
system. Could you explain how does this split the db works? split it into
two? one on the server and one on the web server? How do I keep them
synchronized?

Type split database into access help for assistance.



And do you have problems with the Access db locking? If it is true that you
can't overwrite the database whilst a site has it open, does this also means
that it is not possible to update the db from more than one web browsers?


No not true, multiple conection are allowed.


Thanks.

yuyu


"Dylan Moran" wrote:

Not that this is my area, but I have been involved in a similar project using
access as a backend database serving pages on the internet. I would
investigate having the database on the web server and a front end on a web
page designed using .asp (active server pages). Then you just password
protect certain .asp pages and make others available to all. You could also
use the original front end (if you have split the database) to connect to the
backend on the server. A fair bit of development in regards to the .asp is
required though and you have to know what you are doing.

Good luck.

"yuyu" wrote:

I have a situation which is like this: we are a social group, and I currently
have a database hold members, sponsors, events and various other info on a MS
Access database which is maintained from a desktop PC. We are going to have
a website. The website should allow people to register to become a member
(enter their personal info from a webpage into the database, although the
members info can still be entered into the db from the desktop by the db
admin). The website should also display events information which is coming
from the database ( the event info is entered into the db from the desktop).
So the majority of the update to the DB is from the desktop, but some
updates of the members table from the website is required. Can Access db
provide solution for this? If it can, what is the programming language or
webdesign tool to use to access the MS Access db from the webpage?

I got an email from the support of the hosting company and they told me that
this is a bad idea. the reason is "One of the main issues is the fact that
Access locks the database while the site has an open connection to the db.
This means you can't overwrite the database whilst the site has it open.
Generally the only solution is for us to manually delete the lock file, which
could end up being quite frequent in your situation." And they suggest me to
use mysql. But I guess that means we will have to re-write the front end?