Is Anyone Still Using Access For Web Development Anymore?

Question

Yes, I know, you are all cringing in horror. Back in the day I got my start writing internal apps with classic ASP and MS Access. I'm writing a small marketing app, and I recently got denied access to our SQL Server. So I was looking for alternatives. There will be very little data input, mostly just reading static data. I've heard there are decent alternatives out there like SQLite or Sybase SQL Anywhere web. I guess my question is...

Is Access even considered feasible now?

If not, what file based db alternatives are available?

Thanks for your input.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, yes. We all hate it here, but it's what we are stuck with at the moment for certain apps.

Really, I wouldn't consider using it. There are a ton of better alternatives. Even SQL Desktop Edition will get you more bang for your buck.

Answer 2

A little thing called MySQL, unless you are absolutely positively sure that it will be single user in which case, SQLite is great, but you did say web development, so I wouldn't recommend it.

And no, using MS Access does not make sense anymore.

A 15-second guide to getting started with MySQL and ASP. (note it's a little old, but I am pretty sure it is a good start) Alternatively, this google search brings up a plethora of other tutorials.

Answer 3

Sadly, it is still being used but not nearly as much for new projects. MySQL is free and open source so it is easily taking the place of Access.

Answer 4

"I [was] denied access to our SQL Server." -- gotta love internal politics!

Answer 5

Try SQL Server Express which is cheaper than access since it is free

Answer 6

I would definitely recommend that you try SQLite. It has much of the power of a full-blown relational database, and is file-based.

Here is a description from aspfree.com: Using SQLite for Simple Database Access

Answer 7

It's much easier to setup remotely - when you don't have any access to the machine's desktop.

Answer 8

You could use XML files with LINQ, which would give you the ability to query the information, which might be a little easier than messing with Access.

Just a suggestion because you said it was mostly static information with little changes. SQL would be much better though :)

Answer 9

This Article has several answers about using SQL Server .mdf files. You may only need some dll for run-time or SQL Server Lite/compact/Free edition installed on server.

Answer 10

A couple of years ago I worked for a Fortune 100 company that had a copy of a massive Access database application at each manufacturing site (around 125 of them in the particular business unit I worked for). Every month each site would e-mail their database to the application proprietor, who would manually merge their data to produce the "Big Report."

My assignment was to migrate the back end to a centralized MS SQL Server, but LEAVE THE APP IN ACCESS. I kid you not. They wanted an Access front end married to a centralized SQL Server database. No amount of convincing would dissuade them. I did it, took my paycheck, and moved on. So, yes, there are still folks out there who use Access, but I really can't think of any situation when it's a good idea.

As a previous poster said, try the Express Edition of MS SQL Server. It is a far more powerful, multi-user database that is free.

Answer 11

Access, being both the database engine (formerly known as Jet) plus its 'management studio' and the forms-based RAD development platform plus its IDE, is good for some things (must be so because it still sells well, I'm told). It's hard to argue against it being great for rapid prototyping of forms based applications; about the worst thing you can say is that it has its only way of doing things so skills aren't transferable too well. As a stand-alone it's not so great because its implementation of SQL deviates from the SQL Standard in many ways, again non-transferable skills (you have to 'un-learn' Access's way of working). But for web development, I don't think you will get too many recommendations. The regulars here on SO who still advocate Access seem to be absent in terms of answers recommending it for ASP in this thread and that speaks volumes for me!

Answer 12

Jon,

I would go back and revisit the Sybase SQL Anywhere for the web option. If you are writing web based applications, the new licensing model for SQL Anywhere 11 allows for free production use of their database as long as it is only be touched by a browser based app. Also, the developer version of SQL Anywhere 11 is free as well. I've been using SQL Anywhere/ASA/Watcom SQL since the version 4 days. It is an incredible database and can handle most anything you want to throw at it. We use it for different commerical applications, and I wouldn't use anything else. It's just that good!

HTH.

Jeff