How Many Users Can Use An Access Database? 3

[Skittle]

It has been many years since I created an Access database
to let a group of users work on a small database over a network.

I remember at the time I was warned that Access is really only suitable for 3 to 5 users.

Has this changed?
Can Access now support 20 - 40 users?
What are the pitfalls of using Access for so many users?


Dazed and confused

 

[Ed2020]

It depends very much on the design of your database, data volumes, what the users will actually be doing (entering data, querying data, both), the capabilities of the network infrastructure the database will reside on.

I have databases with upwards of 80 users that have no problems at all. You may find you are more prone to corruption of the MDB files with this high a number of users. Not a problem I've experienced but from what I've read here I'm one of the lucky few.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[KenReay]

Hi

Theoretical limit is 255 users.

In practice it depends on what the users are doing (viewing or updating), the quality of the design and the quality of the infrastrucure (ie PC's and Network).

I am sure you will find all kinds of opinions but for what it is worth, my experience is with a good design and good infrasturucture, upto 8 maybe 10 users updating, 30-40 viewing is practical.

You could of course use Access front end and SQL Server backend.

Regards

Ken Reay
Freelance Solutions Developer
Boldon Information Systems Ltd
Website needs upgrading, but for now -

http://www.kenneth.reay.btinternet.co.uk

UK

 

[fneily]

There are two flavors of Access, Jet and MSDE. Jet is a file server database engine while MSDE is a client/server database engine. Which one to use depends on what type of network, number of users, functionality, etc.,

 

[Skittle]

Interesting responses.

Thanks chaps.

Dazed and confused

 

[boblarson]

Quote by fneily:
"There are two flavors of Access, Jet and MSDE. Jet is a file server database engine while MSDE is a client/server database engine."

Not exactly. Jet is a part of Access and MSDE is actually SQL Server lite. It is not a part of Access but you can use it WITH Access (using Access as a frontend).


Bob Larson
A2K,A2K3,A2K7,SQL Server 2000/2005,Crystal Reports 10/XI,VB6, WinXP, and Vista
Free Quick Tutorials and Samples:

http://www.btabdevelopment.com

 

[ProgramError]

We use two front ends, access and a web page, and one MySQL backend. Two main admin users updating the information and unlimited users reading the information via a web browser. Unlimited I say because as yet we have not yet had a crash and more than 100 users constantly access the information.


Ian Mayor (UK)
Program Error
Always make your words sweet and nice. Because you never know when you may have to eat them.

 

[fneily]

boblarson - I stand corrected. MSDE is used with Access, not part of. Thank you.

 

[JoeAtWork]

ProgramError - if you are using an MySQL backend then I don't think your example pertains to the OP's question. I think he was inquiring about a pure Access solution.

In your case Access is just the front-end. MySQL is handling the 100 connections.