Questions on a Database with Mass Data

[AccessHelp]

Good morning,

Currently, I have 5 databases with data (I would say, backend - BE
databases). Each database contains data for a specific year and has a size
of about 800 MB. The reason that I have 5 databases (represent 5 years of
data) is I don't think Access has a capability of handling 4 to 10 Gig of
data. Going forward, I will have more BE databases since I will have more
data for other years.

What I want to do is I want to build a frontend (FE) database that will
allow users to grab the specific data from a specific year (or multiple
years) by clicking a button or running a report. I know that I can link my
FE to each BE and let a query to grab the specific data from a specific year
(or multiple years). When I think of it and if I do that, I will end up
creating a lot of queries to grab the data. I don't think that is an
efficient way of doing it.

Please give me some advices or suggestions what you would do if you were me.
I also heard that SQL database can handle the massive data. Unfortunately,
I am not familiar with SQL database. If SQL database can do the job, please
let me know the sources where I can go to learn more about SQL databases.

Thanks.

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

You can use Access for the front end but use another db for the back end.
SQL Server will hold 4 to 10GB of data and more. Pick either SQL Server 2005
or 2008.

For training you have the Books Online (BOL).

SQL Server 2005 BOL

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...5D-00DF-4220-B133-29C1E0B6585F&displaylang=en


SQL Server 2008 BOL

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...F7-0983-4D7A-B628-0A98145BCB97&displaylang=en


SQL Server 2005 learning resources (free online videos)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/aa718391.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms169620(SQL.90).aspx

SQL Server 2008 learning resources

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/learning.aspx

More video tutorials

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/SQLTutorials

Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to free SQL Server 2008 Express
learning resources including videos

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/express.aspx


Chris

 

[AccessHelp]

Chris,

Thanks for the information.

Are you referring another db as SQL database? In order for me to use the
SQL server, how much involvement would I expect from our IT department? Is
SQL server a database that can store the data?

I am sorry I am new to the SQL server thing. Could you please tell me a
little bit more?

Thanks.

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

When I say use another db for the backend I mean store the data in SQL Server,
MySQL, Oracle or any other db product that handles 4 to 10GB or more of data.
SQL Server is probably the easiest to learn for new comers. That's why I
suggested it.

Ask your IT dept how much they can support you. Every org is different.
Mine wouldn't help at all, but yours might.

SQL Server can handle terabytes of data. 10GB is not a large db.

Chris