MS Access or web app?

[Richardk]

I have someone with a small multi-user Access application looking for an upgrade / update. Keeping it in Access would be dead drop simple but I’m wondering if better solutions are available today since they asked about “maybe” making it a web app.

I’m thinking it’s not worth the trouble but maybe I’m wrong. The DB would be easy enough to move but the forms and reports are another issue. I know that some of us have tackled this before and I’m looking for any user experiences of what worked or didn’t as well as tools or any other advice. Thanks.

[The Gorn]

Follow the money. If it don't make dollars it don't make sense. 

I'd look into whatever I could do that would (1) be a quantitative upgrade of this person's application and (2) would be easiest for you to implement.

Forms are one issue - you really need programming tools embedded in the web development platform that support forms development. You don't want to reinvent this wheel.

Printing is another issue. One thing worth noting is that there are several embeddable PDF generator libraries available on the marketing, including one that is sold by a member of this forum. A PDF generator creates a PDF when the user requests a report, which is platform-neutral. IE, the PDF can be generated on a Linux server by a web app, then delivered for printing to the user's workstation. This guy's FAQ explains exactly why PDFs are a great solution to the problem of printing from web apps.

[datagirl]

Hi, Richard.

Disclaimer, I've only played around with this for "fun."  I've never deployed a working app for a paying client that was web-enabled and actually put into use (anti-cloud/scared-bunny small business owners).

That said, the answer to your question partly depends on which version of Access you are using.  Version 2000 and 2003 had a "web form" option that saved the screen form in web-friendly format... HTML or XML, if I remember it right.  For version 2007, the accepted practice is to do it in ASP.Net.  Looking online just now, I'm seeing where version 2010 wants to go via sharepoint.  Either way, you are probably looking at a pretty straightforward process... if you can get past the "grey f'in goo" (to borrow a phrase) aspect of  M$ lock-in.

For more info search "MS Access web form".  You'll also see sites for 3rd-party tools, of which I have no first-hand knowledge.

Regards,
-DG

[The Gorn]

if you can get past the "grey f'in goo" (to borrow a phrase) aspect of  M$ lock-in. ...

An homage. Thank you. 

[lorb]

I would really like to try writing a client-server Swing app.  Jasper reports are even possible where just the user makes them, but non-programmatically like that costs a license fee.

Otherwise it's a web-app with HTML and Javascript.  I have seen HTML form generators, good ones cost like $39 for a  license, then you'd have to embed the PHP or JSP tags into it.  I just don't see ASP.net and any kind of clean HTML once it has gotten a hold of it - "grey goo" 

On second thought, strike that JasperReport for $249.  Perhaps just export the data back and let them use the reports from Access or Excel, unless they want them created programmatically - which is just programmer time.

[The Gorn]

Free project planning on demand.   

This is a good list of raw elements.

[Richardk]

Looking online just now, I'm seeing where version 2010 wants to go via sharepoint.  Either way, you are probably looking at a pretty straightforward process... if you can get past the "grey f'in goo" (to borrow a phrase) aspect of  M$ lock-in.

Good grief, it's worse than I expected. I thought Access was a "lock-in" and yes they want version 2010 but now to introduce sharepoint is way overkill for this. The "grey f'in goo" is just getting too deep and too expensive. MS really lacks a middle ground between the enterprise and a simple desktop app.

There must be an easy solution with MySQL and PHP or something like that though I don't know of any nice GUI building tools. The biggest problem I see is the interface and reports, where I don't want to spend a lot of time. A simple drag and drop GUI builder or even a character based system would probably work for this.

Dang, my experience is more with clients that need an 'enterprise' solution as opposed to an 'Access upgrade'. It's back to the "box of light" to do more research.

[Richardk]

Free project planning on demand.   

This is a good list of raw elements.

Yeah, that is funny though it brings up a thought on where is programming going? If you were "starting over" today, which languages, tools, platform, etc would you pick?

MS dominates the corporate world but which tools? C# expert? Maybe Sharepoint? How about MS Dynamics? Or what if you're a back-end guy, then you have Win vs. Linus. Also let's not forget the mobile platforms.

[lorb]

Oh noes, I hope that wouldn't be the "MS box of light".  Yes, just buy Windows Server with IIS, SQL Server, Sharepoint, InfoPath, etc, and you should be all set.   

Seriously though, I was looking myself the other day and noticed a GUI HTML generator for around $39.  Clean HTML.  Embed some PHP statements in it, and make it a bone simply PHP program, grab a logon script from somewhere.  That's how I would do that.

The only pain would be the power-user constantly wanting to change fields around, and names, etc. then going back to change it in your HTML every time, but that is rather unavoidable.  Unless....You go the ASP.net route...the dark-side.   

[Richardk]

Well, do you have a recommendation?

[lorb]

Search for 'HTML form generator'

I don't know why they call this one PHP form.  Maybe it does embed the php tags with the html?

http://www.phpform.org/

Holy Toledo.  If this thing is half as good as the features say, for $39....wow!
http://www.appnitro.com/?ref=pform

[The Gorn]

Anything to do with HTML is probably highly competitive. HTML has just been around for so long.

[The Gorn]

MySQL and Apache on a server (perhaps IIS if you really insist). PHP for the development language.

One of the tools Lorb is mentioning for forms generation.

A PDF generator compatible with PHP.

Otherwise you're talking substantial expen$e in infrastructure.

BUT RICHARD. REALITY CHECK.

Does this individual want to pay anything for this? Why don't you find out their budget first? Don't rush into a fool's errand (unfunded major research for a non client.)

"They won't say" or "they are secretive" is code for "no, they won't pay."

[lorb]

LOL!!  Great insight, Goddard. 

Then again, if it really is that quick to show them something, perhaps you could dangle it over them like a carrot while mentioning your monetary needs.   

[Richardk]

They asked, so I'm looking "a little bit" but I suspect that Access is their solution.

Some of this is also for my own insight since it's likely to come up again. I know some larger past clients had Access as well but so much of that work went offshore, which only leaves smaller companies with less than well funded IT departments. It's starting to look like they are in the same situation if they want to upgrade.