MS Access/SQL Server...general question 1

[GSMike]

Can anyone tell me...
What's the difference between
1) linking an SQL table to Access and running queries against the linked table, and
2) creating pass-through queries to run against the SQL database/table?
I have been told several times that if you do "1)" that the entire recordset is NOT being processed locally, and that it is being processed server-side, and that at this point you therefore have a client-server environment. Is this true?
Some other questions are, Is the effect of "1)" and "2)" the same? Are there performace issues involved when comparing the two methods? Does using the MS Access SQL writer allow for a more flexible coding environment?
Any insight you may have is appreciated. Thank you for your help.
Mike Kemp
michael.kemp@gs.com

 

[jimmythegeek]

When you use attached tables, all processing is done on the user's machine. If you open a query, ALL the data required to process the query is returned to the user's machine and processed there (this is NOT a true Client/Server situation).

When you use a Pass-through Query (PTQ)(or ADO code as far as that goes), the REQUEST is sent directly to the server, the SERVER processes it and sends back ONLY the results (hence a Client/Server application).

For the most part, applications with attached tables have considerably slower performance than apps that are unbound and use PTQ's and ADO for their code.

We re-wrote an Access application connecting to a SQL Server database with PTQ's and ADO, and the performance was like night and day.

If you are going to have a server for SQL, then let the server do the work. You will not be dissatisfied with the PTQ and ADO method, trust me. Jim Lunde
compugeeks@hotmail.com
Custom Application Development