Microsoft KB Archive/174496

= ACC97: Misleading Information in IIS Readme.HTM =

PSS ID Number: 174496

Article Last Modified on 10/22/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Access 97

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This article was previously published under Q174496





SUMMARY
The following information appears in the Database Access Component Issues topic that is included on the Readme.HTM that comes with IIS:

  For performance and reliability reasons, we strongly recommend the use of Microsoft SQL Server for the deployment of production-quality Web applications. Although Active Server Pages works with any ODBC-compliant database, it has been extensively tested and is designed to work with Microsoft SQL Server. ASP also supports Microsoft Access as a valid data source. Although the sample Web site and examples in this release use Microsoft Access, we recommend that Microsoft Access be used solely for development purposes and not for production. Microsoft Access was designed as a single-user desktop database, and not for server use. When multiple, concurrent users make requests of a Microsoft Access database, unpredictable results may occur.

The sentence that states "Microsoft Access was designed as a single-user desktop database" is incorrect.



MORE INFORMATION
The following Microsoft Access Help topic "Share a database on a network" explains how Microsoft Access can be used in a multi-user environment:

  If your computer is connected to a network, you and others can work with one database at the same time. There are several ways you can share data in a multiuser environment.

Share the entire database -

You can put the entire database on a network server or in a shared folder. This is the easiest method to implement. Everyone shares the data and uses the same forms, reports, queries, macros, and modules. Use this strategy if you want to use the database the same way or you can't  afford to support users creating their own objects.

Share only the tables in the database -

You can put only the tables on a network server, and keep other database objects on users' computers. In this case, the database's performance is  faster because only data is sent across the network. Also, users can customize their forms, reports, and other objects for their individual needs and preferences without affecting other users.

You can separate the tables from the other database objects by using the Database Splitter Wizard.

Share the database on the Internet --

You can easily turn your Access objects into World Wide Web (the Web) pages. This can be as simple as exporting an object, such as a form or  table, to HTML, or as elaborate as publishing your data and application on the Web using the Publish to the Web Wizard.

Replicate the database --

If you use two computers, such as an office computer and a portable computer, you can use Microsoft Windows Briefcase to make replicas of  your Microsoft Access database and to keep those replicas synchronized. Also, several users at different locations can work on their own copies at the same time and then synchronize them over the network, either through a dial-up connection or the Internet.

Create a client/server application --

If you work in a client/server environment, you can take advantage of  the extra power and security it provides by creating a client/server application. For more information, see Chapter 19, "Developing  Client/Server Applications," in Building Applications with Microsoft Access 97.

