SQL server Express or Access database

[bodylojohn]

Hello,

For years now I have been using access as my database.
But with the SQL server Express version around I have been wondering if it is not better to use this instead of access.

Note: I only develop applications for small businesses and a limited set of users.

So what do you guys prefer and recommend?

[RobDog888]

Access is more for smaller numbers of users and easier to deploy but for larger db's, multiuser access by a higher number of users, stored procedures etc then you may want to use SQL Express.

[bodylojohn]

Access is more for smaller numbers of users and easier to deploy but for larger db's, multiuser access by a higher number of users, stored procedures etc then you may want to use SQL Express.

So for apps with not more than 5 coherend (at the same time) users access 2007 will do?

[alex_read]

If they are in the same office and your app isn't huge, then yep that should be fine.

[jlbantang]

i've been using ms access for quite a long period and even with a limited number of user accessing the database currency problems becoming extreme issue. while on the other hand sql server offers a variety of option how will you be able to resolved this issue. far from that its robustness, speed and everything... i shift totally to sql server.

[RobDog888]

7-10 concurrent users for Access but if the app will or could be developed to a larger scale then it would definately be worth using SQL Express. but with SQL Express there are limitations in db size of 4gbs and number of users too. After that you have to use SQL Server.

[jmcilhinney]

I wouldn't use Access for any multi-user applications. I'd only consider Access for small, single-user systems that I knew were going to stay small, single-user systems. Even then I might consider SQL Server CE for those instead of Access.

[RobDog888]

Well it totally depends on the type of access you would be doing with an Access db. If its read/queries then it can support 255 users just fine. If its read/write then the 7-10 would be your max users.