Converting MS Access to MySQL backend

[Hap007]

Hello,

I have been asked to convert an MS Access backend database to a MySQL backend for my client's existing software system.

Currently the Client has an MS Access Frontend, Linked to an MS Access backend

I recommended converting to MS SQL.

My client wants the backend converted to MySQL.

Has anyone done this before?

Is this possible?

There have been many years of development on the Frontend in MS Access, so the frontend must stay MS Access.

I would like to know if this is possible and any suggestions you might have on handling a conversion like this.

Are there utilities that can help with this conversion.

Are there any major differences that I chould watch out for?

Thanks,
Hap...

Access Developer

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[ingresman]

Certainly possible to link to the tables in the mysql server.
Access lets you have spaces in table names and columns MYSQL doesn't.
I had a quick google and this looks interesting

http://www.bullzip.com/products/a2m/info.php

 

[LarrySteele]

You didn't mention which version of Microsoft Access you're using, but there's a nasty bug you need to be aware of: Bug #11288 - Access 2003 crashes when creating an ODBC link to a MySQL table.

The problem exists when you first attempt to establish the link to MySQL. Once you're able to make the link you should be able to interact with MySQL with not problems. I've experienced this same problem and have had mixed results connecting to MySQL. On my new notebook, I haven't been able to establish the connection.

Hopefully you won't experience these problems, but wanted to make sure you knew about them.

Good luck with your project,
Larry

 

[hovercraft]

Hap,

I'm in the process of doing this as well. Not really converting to a MySQL backend but adding some web bells and whistles.

The problem I've come across using 2007 and the MyODBC 5.1 driver is error #2006 "The server isn't there". When Access is first launched there is a small window of time that everything works fine, but then the connection drops. I think the problem is in the web server mysql settings (3rd party host using cpanel). But I'm still playing with everything.

But as long as I run the queries as soon as the frontend opens, I have been able to Append, Delete and Select with no issues.

Hovercraft