Adam Howitt

Most ColdFusion developers who work with databases have a favorite, but it usually isn't Microsoft Access. This is not completely irrational and they can give you five reasons why it's unconstitutional to use Microsoft Access. This article attempts to explain when a developer should use Microsoft Access. Consider the situation in which a client has hundreds of man-hours invested in an Access front end that performs everyday tasks, such as managing mailing lists or paper surveys. I propose that Access should be maintained as a front end and the data should be moved to an enterprise database like SQL Server or Oracle. I'll explain how to use ODBC with Access and SQL Server to reduce development time and maintain the existing functionality of an Access front end. Fewer hours spent developing a ColdFusion alternative to a database's existing administration pages can g... (more)