Frequently Asked Questions About Access

1. Is Access Easy To Learn?

Most people say it isn’t, though Microsoft does market it as an easy to use end-user tool. What makes it difficult is that it is a Relational Database Management System and some people find the concepts of relational databases difficult to understand. Microsoft Web Cast on this subject

2. How Do I Know If I Need A Custom Database?

You won’t know until you do a thorough software search. Ask others, check on-line, look for ads in periodicals, check with members of any trade/professional associations you belong to.

3. How Difficult Is It To Maintain A Database Once It’s Set Up And Running?

Not difficult at all. Unlike the larger database products, Access can be maintained by a trained user.

4. Do I Have To Be A Programmer To Create A Database?

No. A simple database can be done by an experienced user.

5. How “Big” A Database Is Too Big For Access?

Access can handle many users (I've seen as many as 50) if it is designed correctly and the hardware is fast. An Access database maxes out at about 2 gb, but there are ways around this limit as well. Claims that Access is "really a single-user" product are usually made by people who don't know the application very well.

6. How Easy Is It To Import Data Into Access From Another System?

On the Access side, this tends to be pretty easy. Access can grab data in many formats and if it can’t, it can process plain ASCII text. (Note that any data that can be exported first to Excel can then easily be exported to Access.)

7. How Secure Can I Make My Access Database?

Access comes with its own Security SubSystem, but many users find it tricky and have managed to create more problems with it than they solve. If you do choose to use it, it is pretty good but by no means impossible to crack. Microsoft has a lot of information on this subject. FAQ on Access Security , Microsoft Security White Paper, How To Secure An Access Database , Web Cast About Security

8. Can I Link My Access Database To Quickbooks?
Yes! We can move your Quickbooks data into Access, and, move Access data to QuickBooks. Read More



Do You Have A Question About Access? Feel free to ask: rachel@rlevineconsulting.com