Using MS Access In client-server

[rajeshkpat]

I've been asked to develop a software in VB 6 for online examination of students(about 50 in each batch) in an institution. It has to be a client-server arrangement. I want to use MS Access for this. They'll using LAN 4 this. Is this ok?

[Hack]

Do you have other options?

How many consequtive users will there be?

What type of growth do you see this application needing with respect to storage capacity?

[rajeshkpat]

Hack, you really ROCK with > 50 K postings! It's like seeking the advise of grand-pa. Great! Keep it up!

Do you have other options?

Soory, no other option except Ms Access!

How many consequtive users will there be?

As I'd mentioned it's 50 students/batch taking an exam.

What type of growth do you see this application needing with respect to storage capacity?

The results of the examination WILL NOT be stored permanently in the db. May once every few months it will be deleted. It's only the questions that'll be stored permanently. So in terms of storage capacity, I expect it to be below 20mb anytime.

[Hack]

It's like seeking the advise of grand-pa.

Thanks...I think.

Soory, no other option except Ms Access!

Then if you don't have any other options you don't have any other choice.

[rajeshkpat]

hack, yes it's true Ms Access is the option. But with whatever info I've provided you, do you think I will/may face any problem in future?

[GaryMazzone]

If all fifty are on at once it will can cause an issue

[si_the_geek]

Agreed, I would expect it to fail in a big way, most likely while people are taking the exam.

Soory, no other option except Ms Access!

Why not?

Do you not have the option for a free (and far superior) alternative such SQL Server Express?

[rajeshkpat]

If all fifty are on at once it will can cause an issue

The chances of this happening are nil - though theoretically it's possible. The 1st thing that I'll have to do is check it out by, maybe, starting several copies of the program & inputting(at the same time) unique data into the db (at the server).

[GaryMazzone]

As soon as someone tells me that something will never happen assume that it will. Access should handle 7 - 10 at the same time if the db is designed right.

[RhinoBull]

I'm just curious why can't you use MS SQL Express as SI suggested?
It's free and far more robust than MS Access. Even though you don't anticipate major traffic and growth for now you should really look into the future.

Regards.

[rajeshkpat]

ok RhinoBull (funny name) - in keeping with your size & image, you've driven home the point. I'll start looking into SQL Server Express. Frankly, I never knew it's free. Btw, can somebody just show me the description of the driver 4 SQL Server Express that'll used in the connection string?

[si_the_geek]

Not only is it free, but like most database systems it is also significantly better than Access in many ways... all you miss out on is the non-database side of things, such as the ability to create forms/reports inside the database file (but you can do that in your program instead).

For connection string information/examples, see the link in my signature.