Microsoft Access Web Hosting

Microsoft Access is Microsoft’s desktop database management system and is seen by many as an easy way of managing small amounts of data on an individual or commercial basis. Microsoft Access is a premium Microsoft program since it is part of the Microsoft Office family meaning that you will need to purchase a license from Microsoft to be allowed to use the program. Microsoft Access web hosting normally comes in the form of Windows web hosting, since other server operating systems such as Linux are unable to host and run Microsoft Access files since it is a Microsoft product. Microsoft Access isn’t designed for commercial scaling, since it isn’t able to cope with large loads; in this sort of situation Microsoft SQL Server 2005 hosting would be a safer bet since SQL databases are generally very scalable when compared to databases that have been created in a desktop program. However, Microsoft Access still contains many of the same qualities that Microsoft SQL Server has in terms of database management and how the data is handled once it is stored on a server.

Microsoft Access web hosting is designed for the hosting of Windows based applications and websites such as ones that have been designed and built using classic ASP or ASP.NET. Both classic ASP and ASP.NET are Microsoft products meaning that they are capable of being used with Microsoft Access databases, allowing you to save the data that is entered into forms on your website into a secure database that only you have access to. Microsoft Access web hosting is availably cheap, meaning that you can easily have your website that you have designed and built using classic ASP or ASP.NET hosted in a secure and professional Windows web hosting environment. Microsoft Access provides you with one easy to use interface that you can use to manage your database file, but since Microsoft Access is a file you will have to download an updated version of your database from your web space each time you want to change something, and upload it once you have completed the change. Microsoft Access web hosting is more or less useless for you unless you have access to the program, since otherwise you will be unable to manage the database that you have created your website or application.

Microsoft Access web hosting is seen as a practical solution for those who want to run a small website based on either classic ASP or ASP.NET since it represents a chance to get a small dynamic website going with ease. By having the ability to use a desktop application that can provide you with a graphical interface to manage your database, you are able to ensure that you can use Microsoft Access without any high level of knowledge needed. Of course you need to know the basics of a Microsoft Access database such as how to create new tables and queries, but apart from that the main area of knowledge that you need for Microsoft Access web hosting is the ability to build your website or application using classic ASP or ASP.NET so that you can have a website to interact with your Microsoft Access database. Microsoft Access database administration is easy with the desktop application, since all you have to do is download a copy of your database from your web space and launch the desktop application to allow you to manage your database as you wish.

Microsoft Access web hosting is able provide existing users of Microsoft’s office system with many advantages over using other forms of desktop database management. These advantages/benefits include:

• an easy to use user interface that is similar to that of the other office products, meaning that it isn’t as hard as you think it may be to find your way around the application
• you can use built in functions such as forms and queries to help you organise the data that you have stored in your database, and can also use them to find the data concerned
• Microsoft Access can also generate web forms already programmed using the classic FTP programming language for use with your Microsoft Access database
• you have the ability to create tables with rows and columns with ease, since the provided interface in Microsoft Access labels each option in English and doesn’t include any jargon
• you can integrate Microsoft Access databases into websites and applications built using classic ASP or ASP.NET using the Microsoft OBDC system.

Windows web hosting providers normally provide Microsoft Access web hosting clients with access to a Windows web hosting control panel so that they are able to manager the different aspects or their web hosting accounts with ease. The most popular control panel that is used by many web hosts is called Plesk, and allows you to have advance management of your Microsoft Access web hosting account using an easy to use web based control panel interface. You will find that Plesk comes with a file manager application that you may find useful since you can use it to upload and download files from your web hosting space as you wish; you can also use the file manager to set permissions on individual files and folders in your web space which is normally needed to ensure that classic ASP or ASP.NET websites are able to function correctly. Permissions are also needed on Microsoft Access database files to ensure that your web pages and scripts are able to read and write to the database.

Microsoft Access as an application is fairly easy to use, but getting a Microsoft Access database to work with your website is completely different story meaning that you should ensure that you have the necessary knowledge to do so beforehand. If you feel that you don’t have the necessary knowledge to configure your Microsoft Access web hosting account to work properly with your database and website, you should consider a fully managed web hosting account so that you can rely on the support team of your web hsoting provider if you need any help with the situation. Most professional web hosting support teams are experienced with Microsoft Access web hosting, meaning that they should be able to configure the necessary permissions on your website’s files and database to allow them to interact with one another in harmony whilst other database systems wouldn’t function so well.

Although you may be paying very little for your Microsoft Access web hosting account, you will probably find that it isn’t that reliable when you look at the amount of uptime that your website receives. Reliable web hosting is more and more important these days, and since Microsoft Access hosting is used by businesses mainly you should ensure that you receive a reliable web hosting service.

In conclusion, Microsoft Access web hositng is the perfect solution for those who wish to host a website that they have developed using ASP or ASP.NET for use in conjunction with a Microsoft Access database file. If you find a Windows web hosting package that is able to provide you with control panel access to allow you to manage your web hosting account, along with the right level of support for you then you should be more or less set with hosting your Microsoft Access website in your web hosting account.