Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access is Microsoft’s desktop database application and is used by web developers for the creation of small database driven websites since Microsoft Access databases are ideal for use in situations which require an easy to use and flexible database system. Microsoft Access is an application which is part of the Microsoft Office desktop package which also includes other popular Microsoft applications including Word and Excel; it is widely used by businesses to keep records on their computers internally since it is very useful in this situation since it means that one easy to read file can be accessed from any computers internally. Microsoft Access can be used in conjuncton with the classic ASP and ASP.NET scripting frameworks to allow web developers to create dynamic websites for hosting in a Windows web hosting environment; although Microsoft Access may not be that scalable, it is fine for use in small deployments of certain web applications. The fact that Microsoft Access is a desktop application means that it is easy for even those with little or no technical knowledge to manage a Microsoft Access database effectively; the interface uses little or no jargon which means that adding new data to your database tables or creating entirely new tables for your Microsoft Access is easily done – if you were to use Microsoft SQL Server instead then you would find that you would need quite a bit of knowledge just to allow you to setup your database correctly. Microsoft Access is a commercial application which means that you will need to pay for a license if you wish to use it, and this can put some people off from using Microsoft Access as their database backend; a more scalable alternative for some people is Microsoft SQL Server Express since this is free to use but can also offer you a lot more features over Microsoft Access.

In order to be able to make use of a Microsoft Access database you will need to have a Windows web hosting package, whether this be a Windows shared hosting package or a Windows dedicated hosting package; Windows web hosting services can be purchased from most web hosting providers and there are many different forms of Windows web hosting available at different price points which means that regardless of what your requirements may be or what your budget is, there will always be a Windows web hosting package available to meet your requirements either partially or fully.

What are the advantages of using Microsoft Access?

There can be many advantages to using Microsoft Access over any other database systems which you may be considering for your requirements, simply because Microsoft Access is one of the easiest to use database systems available. The main advantage of using Microsoft Access is the fact that it is a desktop application which makes it easier for you to manage a Microsoft Access database to an extent since Microsoft Access can provide you with an easy to use and intuitive interface which is means that you can manage a Microsoft Access database in a very different way to how you would manage an SQL database; with an SQL based database you need to be aware of the various data types in order to allow you to set your SQL database up correctly, but such knowledge isn’t required with a Microsoft Access database. Microsoft Access databases are ideal for small deployments since a Microsoft Access database can easily be transferred to a memory stick or emailed off to someone else once you have collected the data which you require since a Microsoft Access database is served as a direct file rather than through a service; this means that most Windows web hosting packages will allow you to host an unlimited number of Microsoft Access databases under your web hosting account, with the only limit being the amount of disk space which you have available to use. A Microsoft Access database can also be integrated with classic ASP and ASP.NET based scripts to allow you to create dynamic websites that can use your Microsoft Access database as a way of storing the data that they require in one central location; most websites are using a dynamic system of some sort these days, and by using a website management system which utilizes a database you will be able to create a much more flexible and feature rich website. In summary, the main advantages of using Microsoft Access include:

  • Ease of use – many will agree that Microsoft Access is one of the easiest to use database applications available since it is a desktop database system rather than an SQL database service as is the case with more complex database applications – this means that Microsoft Access is much easier to use than many of the other database systems which are available for businesses and web developers since you can manage a Microsoft Access using a desktop interface which is jargon free, because if we take an SQL database as an example you need to know the different data types that there are available to use if you wish to set your database table up correctly
  • Physical file – the fact that Microsoft Access databases are served as physical files means that you can easily transfer a Microsoft Access database to a memory stick or email it as an attachment to someone else if you wish to share the contents of the database with someone else with ease – most Windows web hosting packages will limit you with the number of Microsoft SQL Server databases that you are allowed to create for the simple reason that a large number of databases is going to overload the Microsoft SQL server, although since a Microsoft Access database is just a simple file you won’t be limited with the number of Microsoft Access databases that you can host under your Windows web hosting account although you may be limited in other ways such as with the number of connections there can be to a single database at one time
  • Website integration – a Microsoft Access database can be used as the database backend for a website if required, just as long as you have developed the website concerned using either classic ASP or ASP.NET as your scripting language of choice – if you wish to then you could create a CMS system which would allow you to manage your website much more easily, and this can be easily done when using a scripting language and a Microsoft Access database – both classic ASP and ASP.NET enjoy full integration with Microsoft Access databases which means that you can easily create a website using either scripting framework and can then make use of a Microsoft Access database as the backend for your website.

You will find that using Microsoft Access can provide you with many advantages which can make using a database in conjunction with your website much easier than you may have thought possible. Although you will require a Windows web hosting package if you wish to use Microsoft Access databases, if you are a novice then you will find this combination to be highly useful and easy to use.

What are the disadvantages of using Microsoft Access?

There can also be disadvantages to using Microsoft Access, simply because it is a commercial product and can only be used properly in a desktop environment which restricts what you are able to use Microsoft Access databases for. The main disadvantage of using Microsoft Access is the cost of the application itself since because it is a commercial product you will need to pay to use it – the amount you pay for Microsoft Access will depend on whether you decide to purchase it as a standalone application or whether you purchase the entire Microsoft Office suite; in some situations such as for business it may be more beneficial to purchase the entire office suite, but if you are a home user then you should opt for purchasing the standalone application. The second disadvantage to using Microsoft Access databases is the fact that you will need to have a Windows web hosting package if you wish to be able to make the most of a Microsoft Access database in web hosting environment; the reason for this is that Microsoft Access is a Microsoft product which will only work in conjunction with the Windows operating system – similarly, the same can be said for classic ASP and ASP.NET based web pages and scripts. Microsoft Access isn’t the most scalable of database applications available because it is a desktop database application which means that it isn’t designed for large scale deployments or for situations where you are sure that your Microsoft Access database is going to experience a high load at most times; if you require a database solution that will be able to meet high demand then you should consider Microsoft SQL Server for your requirements. You will find that the main disadvantages of using Microsoft Access include:

  • Price – Microsoft Access as an application can cost quite a bit to begin with meaning that you should only really consider Microsoft Access for your requirements if you already have access to the application or are able to justify the cost of using – the cheapest option that most should choose is to purchase Microsoft Access as a standalone application since by purchasing the entire Microsoft Office suite you are going to be spending a lot of money and the likelihood is that you won’t need many of the other applications which will be included – if you are a business then the likelihood is that you have the business Edition of Microsoft Office which provides you with Microsoft Access anyway, but as an individual if you don’t have Microsoft Access then you should consider another database system for your requirements
  • Windows web hosting – Microsoft Access databases will only function correctly on Windows web hosting packages since a Microsoft Access database can only be hosted on a Windows web hosting server – this can increase your costs further since Windows web hosting packages generally tend to be more expensive than their Linux counterparts which can put some people off from using Windows web hosting packages – the main reason for Microsoft Access databases for only functioning correctly on Windows web hosting packages is that Windows is an operating system that has been developed by Microsoft and since both are commercial products the company has decided to make Microsoft Access only usable on Windows web hosting servers
  • Scalability – Microsoft Access isn’t the most scalable of database systems available since it is a desktop database application designed for low loads rather than a database server application which has been designed to cope with high loads – if you wish to choose a database system for use in a Windows web hosting environment which can offer you a high level of scalability then you should consider a Microsoft SQL Server database for your requirements – Microsoft Access databases wouldn’t be able to cope with the high load since they are only designed for use in a desktop environment, and if a high load was to be put on a Microsoft Access database then the server is likely to crash.

The disadvantages of using Microsoft Access mean that you should avoid using the database application if you have a restricted budget or need to create a highly scalable system that will be able to meet your requirements for a while to come; if you only have a Linux web hosting package then you will find that Microsoft Access databases won’t function correctly under your web hosting account.

In conclusion, Microsoft Access is one of the best database solutions available to you if you require a simple to use system which can be deployed instantly if you have the tools available to you. Not only can Microsoft Access be used for keeping small and simple desktop databases but you can also develop Microsoft Access databases to be used in conjunction with websites that have been coded using either classic ASP or ASP.NET.