Chapter 9: Microsoft Access and the Web

Overview

Microsoft Access is the most popular desktop database on the market. In fact, developers successfully push Access over the desktop edge—where no other desktop database dare go—to compete with the big boys—SQL Server, Oracle, and the rest. Despite the tricks Access can perform when exploited, keep in mind when choosing a database to support a website that Access wasn't designed to be a database server. On the other hand, if your application already exists in Access and it's currently getting the job done without user complaints about performance or stability, the chances are your Access application will make the switch to web application. In this chapter, we'll tell you what Access can handle, and what it can't, in the way of web support.