is there a simple front for sql server?

Question

i am in a multi-user environment

i am using access as a front end connecting to sql server database. i am allowing users to edit only one table in sql server.

i dont want to continue using access to edit a sql-server table.

can someone recommend another tool to do this?

Answer 1

Use SSMS -- Sql Server Management Studio.

Update

Found a near duplicate @SU: Less daunting front end for SQL Server

Update 2

Try to use Microsoft ASP.NET Dynamic Data. And a tutorial on YouTube, of course.

Answer 2

If you pull down a copy of visual studio express you could build a single screen application that allows editing a table with just drag and drop from the server explorer. No coding needed unless you're looking to add some more advanced logic.

Alternatively you could just use Access to also build a one screen front end - with that as the start up form to your Access DB your users wouldn't even know they're in Access.

Edit:

1. Assuming you're in a windows domain - put all your users in to a security group and then grant this group access to the SQL Server. Only grant the group permissions on the specific objects that they need to edit.

2. Create a blank Access DB.

3. Link your SQL Server table in to the Access DB - e.g. in 2007 the option is in the External Data ribbon > more... > ODBC database.

4. Once you have the table linked create a form to edit the data by doing Create > more > Form Wizard.

This allows you to pick the exact columns you want them to edit, pick a layout etc.

From here the options are really only limited by how much effort you want to put in but it's a good start in contrast to direct table access.

Answer 3

Either Access or Excel are almost certainly the simplest solutions available that meet your requirements, when you consider both the simplicity of the user interface itself and the simplicity of implementing, deploying, and maintaining the solution for the users. Creating even a simple web page isn't nearly so simple – you'll need to setup a web server, configure user security, develop the web page, etc.

Answer 4

Sounds like you need to give CRUD access to a table in a SQL Server database.

Suggest making a simple page - use ASP.NET Dynamic Data. Watch this video to get started with ASP.NET Dynamic Data.

Failing that, provision the user with Microsoft Access.

• setup a new user in SQL Server, and give it permissions on that table only.
• setup Access to read, update, create and delete that table. Use the credentials of the user in the bullet above. This will ensure they can't mess anything else up.
• Only bring that table into the user's view.

Answer 5

I believe it's still in Beta but you might want to also take a look at WebMatrix.

Answer 6

The Access 2007 runtime and the Access 2010 runtime is free for the download from Microsofts website. Of course you'd want to purchase Access licenses for power users who want to create their own queries usually for export to Excel.