Selecting the Data Source

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This content is no longer actively maintained. It is provided as is, for anyone who may still be using these technologies, with no warranties or claims of accuracy with regard to the most recent product version or service release.

Office Developer provides a broad array of tools and technologies for creating multiuser database solutions. Specifically, Access provides tools and features for creating multiuser database solutions by using four different database architectures: file server, client/server, replication, and Web-based data access pages.

For more information about database schema development and data source selection, see in the Access Workflow Designer Developer's Guide.

For small team solutions, you can use a MSDE database. MSDE is available on the Microsoft Office 2000 Premium CD-ROM. For large team solutions, the standard or enterprise installation of SQL Server 7.0 with Service Pack 1 is recommended.

MSDE databases use a database engine that is similar to SQL Server, but an MSDE database does not support as many users. Optimal performance using MSDE is achieved with five or fewer concurrent users. The advantage to using MSDE is you can use it to create a scalable SQL Server compatible database from Access. It is a good tool for prototyping and designing an enterprise solution you eventually will migrate to SQL Server, because you can run an MSDE database under SQL Server without modification.

MSDE, however, provides no development or management tools. If you must access database tables directly, you must use osql command-line utility or the SQL Data Management Objects (SQL-DMO). SQL-DMO, included with MSDE, provides a means to do virtually everything programmatically that is done with SQL Server Enterprise Manager. For more information, see SQL Server Books Online, osql utility, and MSDE Help in Access.

If you plan to use MSDE, you have two sources for this program — the Microsoft Office 2000 Premium CD1 and the Microsoft Office Developer CD-ROM:

  • To develop team solutions for the Access Workflow Designer, use MSDE on the Microsoft Office 2000 Premium CD1.

  • For the offline database store for end-user client computers, use the MSDE run-time version on the Microsoft Office Developer CD-ROM.