AboutScottgem Expertise I can answer almost all types of questions relating to Microsoft Access usage and application design. My strengths are database and interface design.
Experience I've been designing databases for over 15 years working with dBase, FoxPro, Approach and Access.
Organizations Author of Microsoft Office Access 2007 VBA Techncial Editor for Special Edition Using Microsoft Access 2007 and Access 2007 Forms, Reports & Queries From Que Publishing
Question I have a database in use at the place in which I work. It's constantly being updated and changed. I'm starting to develop new features for the database...new forms, new code. When I come in, I need to update the database. But what's the best way to do this?? I don't think there's a merge feature? I'm a little lost at how I might update the database during development. Such as table fields, and updated forms...
How is this done in the professional environment?
Also keep in mind, in the near future, I'd like to run the Access database completely on the Access runtime with a package installer. Any ideas how to update from this as well?
Any help would be great...
Answer First, you need to split the database. All the tables go in the back end and everything else is in the front end. EVERY database that has multiple users (including a developer and a user as different people) NEEDS to be split. There is no way you can maintain the database otherwise. Also a non split database is an invitation to corruption.
Most changes to a production database occur in the front end, so the developer maintains their own copy of the front end in a development folder. It's easy to replace the front end whenever there are changes. There are several autoupdaters avaiable as freeware.
If, however, you need to make changes to the back end, that is more complex. If the back end resides on a network share (the front ends should be installed locally) then you may need to make those changes at off hours or when you can force the users out of the database.
Hope this helps,
Scott<>
Microsoft Access MVP 2007
Author: Microsoft Office Access 2007 VBA
