I have a windows application written in VB.net. After finishing it I’ll setup the program in more than one pc. I want to connect the program in all PCs to one database in another PC using Microsoft Access, and I also want to limit the level of access of the users to the database in my program.
How can I do it? Many thanks.
Access is capable of handling multiple users, however once you get over 3 or 4 concurrent users you will start to notice that MS Access doesn’t scale well. Access is designed for the professional but not an enterprise.
Microsoft SQL Server (Express edition is free – upto 4GB space) is designed for a large number of concurrent users.
I also want to limit the level of access of the users to the database in my program.
You can use folder Permissions if you wish to restrict access to the file. Personally in my old VB6 apps that used MS Access I called the file db.resources rather than db.mdb. This is because a.resources file cant be downloaded if it is hosted online (ref DotNetNuke) and also so people dont know which program to open the file in.
If you need role based security you need a enterprise level database such as SQL Server.
I want to connect the program in all PCs to one database in another PC using Microsoft Access.
Here is how you can have two computers share the same database.
a. Choose the main PC that will host the database
b. Host the database in a folder that is shared to the other users
c. Physically go over to the PC that isn’t hosting the database, create a text fileon the desktop.
d. Rename the file extension from
.txtto.udland press entere. Double clcik the udl file and enter these settings and navigate to the shared folder that hosts the shared database:
f. Once the Test Connection is successful, close the Data Link Properties window.
g. Right click the UDL file on the desktop and choose Open With and open with notepad
h. You will see your connection string:
i. Set the second pc to use the networked connection string.