pre-sales MS ACcess conversion

[Fergus]

I'm interested in this product as a possible way move my church's Microsoft Access database onto the web for access by staff. I'd appreciate a little more information regarding the following issues that I think I would encounter. I am running Access 2010 on Windows 7 machine. I have access to website hosting on Apache server with SQL and PHP.

Can I generate table structures directly from Access? Failing that, can I import each table and its structure from something like CSV files?

Our data requirement is not particularly challenging (no more than 10 tables), but I am concerned to discover whether I can deal with many-to-many file relationships. This is important as our church database stores the membership of individuals in multiple groups.

How sophisticated is the search/reporting function? We use our database to select across multiple criteria (e.g. male members of two specific groups living in one suburb) and then either print or perhaps e-mail directly to them. Is this easily possible? Are RTF e-mails possible? Can attachments be sent? Can we select non-membership of a category easily (eg everyone not in a small group)?

We also find we need to do batch processing from time to time. For example, to upgrade student school years each year, or to archive members who are no longer active. How easy is it to accomplish such tasks?

Apart from any security on the server itself, how secure would my data be using your software? This is a very important issue because it will contain contact information for parishioners. Am I able to restrict the tables/fields up-datable by different staff members?

Many thanks
Fergus

[clifford]

.....on Windows 7 machine. I have access to website hosting on Apache server with SQL and PHP.

-> That's a good start. Do you have a MySQL database available to use?

Can I generate table structures directly from Access? Failing that, can I import each table and its structure from something like CSV files?

-> Yes you can move the data several ways. You will need You will need a method to manage the data once you move it to the web correct?

Our data requirement is not particularly challenging (no more than 10 tables), but I am concerned to discover whether I can deal with many-to-many file relationships. This is important as our church database stores the membership of individuals in multiple groups.

-> How are these "files" stored? within the database or in a folder or did you mean records?

How sophisticated is the search/reporting function? We use our database to select across multiple criteria (e.g. male members of two specific groups living in one suburb) and then either print or perhaps e-mail directly to them. Is this easily possible? Are RTF e-mails possible? Can attachments be sent? Can we select non-membership of a category easily (eg everyone not in a small group)?

-> Okay you have four differnt questions here. Search is a feature in the app. It is not an email client however you can sture links to emails in the db. It would open your email client software to send the email. The PHPMagic Plus version allows for group access type applications.

We also find we need to do batch processing from time to time. For example, to upgrade student school years each year, or to archive members who are no longer active. How easy is it to accomplish such tasks?

-> SQL statement perhaps in a php script or using phpmyadmin which you host probably offers to manage your mysql databases.

Apart from any security on the server itself, how secure would my data be using your software? This is a very important issue because it will contain contact information for parishioners. Am I able to restrict the tables/fields up-datable by different staff members?

-> The software is not loaded on the server but the generated files are. The database is stored on your webhost server. You would need to apply .htaccess or directory protection or another method you host may offer. To the interface of the management of your db.