For many organisations there is a recognition that certain Access databases need to be added into a data centre or brought under a more formal level of control; in some cases simply a more scalable and robust platform is required and in other systems adding a more formal control mechanism for design changes is required. Further down the line, systems may need revisions to extend them onto different technologies like terminal server or .net, or consolidate duplicated data sets repeated over multiple-databases into a more focused systems.
This is a complex business problem, which may also need to find a balance between meeting the continuously changing needs of the organisation coupled with providing improved stability in the applications which can also lead onto issues of application ownership and control procedures for subsequent design change to systems.
Migrating data and database structure effortlessly with MUST technologies
We can provide a solid technology to assist your business in making this kind of change in your organisation.
Firstly in terms of migrating existing systems and establishing a solid robust SQL Server platform MUST is unique in that it does not generate an endless list of errors, but instead automatically fixes any serious design faults and invalid data allowing systems to be simply migrated to a SQL Server backend. Yet it also balances this against the need to make transition work in your business, so for example a field containing a quotation mark in the name will upsize correctly; and can then subsequently be reviewed at a later point in time for correction. The problem we avoid here is in forcing corrections that could well cause devastating impact in the applications.
Our philosophy is to get the system upsized onto SQL Server with a minimum need to re-engineer the application interface.
MUST means that you can provide power users with a tool that makes the migration process simple for them to undertake, and more importantly to repeat at the point of switching over a system using our unique commissioning features. MUST also pushes users in the direction of both using schemas to partition applications and database roles for simplifying security. In addition, our solid understanding of Access means that we have pioneered approaches to resolving technical issues that could otherwise cause problems in the subsequent translation of SQL from Access to SQL Server.
Top of Page
Ensuring satisfactory performance is maintained with MUST+SQL
Once an application has had the data upsized, sometimes there can be performance issues surrounding various processes. These tend to break down into two main areas.
The first area is related to the manner in which Access allows users to browse through large volumes of data without any filtering on the data; issues here can normally be resolved by offering various drop-downs and filters to restrict the data that is displayed.
The second issue is problems of complex multi-layered queries and sequences of queries; examples of performance bottlenecks include emptying large tables of data or perform complex layers of calculations.
MUST+SQL is an invaluable tool in dealing with these problems. With the right tool it is possible to automatically translate Access SQL to SQL Server SQL, allowing for the conversion of built in VBA functions and custom VBA functions and query parameters and crosstab queries and references to screen controls in SQL.
Top of Page
Moving forwards to embrace new technologies with MUST+WEB
Once your organisation has reached the giddy height of securing the data in SQL Server and maintaining the applications features, performance and functionality, the next step is to move forwards, and that’s where MUST+WEB kicks in.
MUST+WEB is aimed at converting Access applications to a web form based framework and using SQL Server Report Server for reporting, .net programmers can then rapidly adapt the framework to replicate the sophisticated functionality of Access. Every year Visual Studio has made significant advances in easing application development and reducing the cost of development.
Top of Page
Conversion with best practice
The MUST product suite has always supported best practice, encouraging the use of schemas in partitioning applications and database roles for simplifying security. When we translate Access forms to .net we make extensive use of CSS, multiple master-pages and the latest .net technologies.
Top of Page
Supporting your business through transition
We can offer yours business a state of the art software suit for making this transition and support this with mentoring and tailored training courses to maximise your companies productivity in the transition of these systems to a more robust, flexible and powerful SQL Server platform.
Top of Page
by Andrew Couch Office Access MVP, Director ASC Associates
andy@ascassociates.biz