| Throughout my years working with Access, initially | | | | is what counts, but let me tell you, I have a |
| using it as a glorified spreadsheet package, I have | | | | database with over three million records in it and it |
| gradually honed my skills but I am still learning new | | | | works fine. It has only taken up 3/4s of the memory |
| things everyday. Every new project takes my | | | | space that Access can handle, so as you can see, |
| knowledge to a new level and I want the business | | | | for most companies this is more than sufficient. |
| world to realise just how versatile this product really | | | | Lets talk about cost. For the price of developing a |
| is. | | | | system in Access, you probably would have spent |
| Having built systems as complex as Reinsurance pool | | | | the same just getting the system specd out in |
| ledgers I know just how powerful it can be. It is a | | | | Oracle. This is because the companies that develop |
| shame that the IT fraternity have always mocked its | | | | these client server mainframe systems have huge |
| capabilities as a reliable database application. This is | | | | infrastructures and as a consequence, huge |
| mainly to do with the fact that users can build their | | | | overheads. They will charge a minimum of |
| own systems, which generally do not follow standard | | | | £100ph for every individual at every meeting |
| programming conventions and it becomes, from their | | | | they have with you, then there is the project |
| point of view, impossible to support. However, | | | | manager, the accountant, the programmers and so |
| designed and programmed properly this need not be | | | | on. |
| the case. | | | | You then need powerful hardware to handle such a |
| OK so you cant build conglomerate size systems with | | | | system, along with expensive licenses for every user. |
| Access, I accept that. But there are literally millions of | | | | Access needs none of this! Any reasonable server |
| companies in the world that are not conglomerates. | | | | can handle it or, if you are a small outfit, a desktop |
| I have worked for Insurance companies that have | | | | computer is fine. The only license you will ever need |
| invested millions of pounds in their systems which is | | | | is the license you got when you purchased MS |
| obviously a completely different ball game, but for | | | | Access itself (most people already have it as it |
| the small to medium sized business MS Access is | | | | comes with MS Office). |
| invaluable. | | | | So you are just left with the cost of developing it. |
| Access can produce an extremely professional, user | | | | Well most Access programmers either own or work |
| friendly interface or menu based functionality that | | | | for small establishments and simply dont have the |
| easily rivals the bigger fish. Indeed, Access interfaces | | | | same massive overheads. |
| are often used to front client server systems such | | | | If you need a bespoke system, please consider the |
| as SQL Server due to Access' flexibility and ease of | | | | merits of using Access, it may not be for you but |
| menu design. The only difference is the data is held | | | | then again it just might. Find yourself an established |
| on the SQL platform instead of internally in the | | | | company, with good support mechanisms, and you |
| Access platform. Obviously the volume of data here | | | | might just save yourself a fortune! |