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How to link your SSW Access database to an Access or SQL backend
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Most Access developers split their Access application into
two files the application database and the data database. The
application database (the forms, reports, saved queries and programming)
is installed on the local hard disk, and the data file is stored on the
network drive for access by multiple users over the network.
Note: SSW recommends Microsoft Access to be installed locally on the C: drive. To share a Microsoft Access database across a network, the data database
(e.g. SSWDATA.MDB), needs to be moved to a location on the network that is accessible by everyone who wants to use the database. The data database contains only tables and
data, not forms and reports.
A copy of the application database (e.g. SSW.MDB) is required on each computer
which will access the shared data. This file contains
the forms, reports, saved queries and programming.
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 Figure:
Split your database into application and data so that network users can share
the data |
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The "data" database will be placed on a shared drive such as E:, F: G: etc. or a
UNC \\Server\Data |
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Moving the Database and Reconnecting to the Data
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| If backend is SQL Server, then your Access database does not point to a
particular data file. Instead your access to the database is via an
ODBC Data Source Name (DSN). A DSN has a reference to your
server (NT or Windows 2000) and the database name. (How to link your SSW Access database
to a SQL Server backend)
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- Ensure the database is not in use.
- Copy the application database onto each computer that needs to use it.
- Open the application database on each computer. You can use the built-in
Access linked table manager (in Access under Tools > Database Utilities
> Linked Table Manager) to link the application database to the data
database.
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Figure: You can use the Access Linked Table Manager to re-link your tables to
the data database |
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If you are using SSW Upsizing PRO! or
SSW Time PRO! you can simply open the application
and follow the instructions given on the Attachment Manager to connect to the drive where the
data database is stored.
Figure: If you are using SSW Upsizing PRO! or SSW Time PRO! you can easily
re-link your tables using the Attachment Manager |