My question is, would Access
be the database to use or should I look at something else. The database
would be mostly text with few calculations; I estimate a few hundred
colleges
would be listed. I am new to WEB publishing and want to be pointed in the
right direction.
The question is do you have the resources, and expertise to setup and run a
web server?
The normal forms you make with ms-access is of no use, nor no relation to a
web based system.
You can certainly build a table of data with ms-access, and then transfer
that table to a web server. (but not the forms, reports, code etc). Of
course, making a table in ms-access and typing in some data is a very small
thing. So, the ONLY part of ms-access you use is the tables.
Now, on the web server you would then create the interface (web pages).
Likely, something like Front Page would be a good tool for you. So,
ms-access role is VERY small at this point. It is also not clear if you plan
to setup your own web server, or use an existing one? You can go to your
existing internet provider and ask them for some web space. Of course, not
all providers support the same tools. Ms-access is certainly different then
Excel. The same goes for your internet providers: If you go to some
provider, then you need to ask what tools and environment they support. For
example MOST web providers do NOT support ms-access databases. Of course, if
you just connect to the internet, then you can also build your OWN web
server. However, while setting up a web server on YOUR computer takes some
skills, the real problem is now your computer is exposed to the internet.
Making your web server secure and dealing with the issues of secure etc, and
dealing with hackers etc is takes LOT of experience. If you understand now
how to hack into web sites, and understand their weak spots, then you have
the skills to setup a secure web site.
A friend of mine used Front Page to setup a system for his high school
reunion. The list of people was setup in ms-access, but the web site was
built with Front Page. I believe within one week the web site was hacked
into, and the front page of the web site was changed!!! The solution for
this person was to move the whole web site off the computer, and move the
web site to a good quality internet provider that has full time secure, and
they know how to setup this stuff.
So, at the end of the day...ms-access plays a VERY LITTLE ROLE in terms of
the web issue. The big questions are you going to setup and run you OWN web
server (and, what web server software do you want to use (there are many
different kinds of web server programs)).
Anyway....setting up a web server, and choosing the tools is very much
beyond a simple newsgroup post.
