I developed an Access 2003 application that is connected to SQL Server.
My problem is that I developed the software on my server, and the application runs on the client network on a different (identical) server.
As a result my executable file (Aka. .ADE) does not open on the client's computer, because of bad SQL Server connection.
My solution so far was to open the application file (.ADP) on the client's computer, changing the connection path from there and then creating there the executable file.
Now my client has only Access runtime environment, so I cannot do such thing.
I wonder if there is a way to determine the connection in an ADE file this way.
(I know I can change it through VBA, but when the connection is initially false, I don't even get to the VBA code stage.)
In the interest of keeping things simple, I'll say you need to set up a testing environment you control that mimics your client's environment. For instance, if they have a sql 2008 server named "SQL1", then you should install sql 2008 express on your machine, and rename your machine to "SQL1" so you can test. You'd also need to copy the schema of their database tables and put that same schema in your own test database, and fill it with test data that is similar to theirs. And you'll want to create duplicate logins as well.
With all that in place, I wouldn't think you'd need to update anything. Just copy the ADE file over to your client when you're done making changes. You could try to code your way though this scenario, but I've been there and done that. Having a test environment that apes your client's takes a lot of headaches out of the equation.
Related
I have imported data to SQL Server Express from MS Access and have tried to link to the data from an Access front end file.
I have tried several different login types, but each gives me the same error:
Error Locating Server/Instance Specified
Please help.
Assuming a local instance of SQL server?
The default is usually YOURCOMPUTERNAME\SQLEXPRESS.
But, you can use a "." (dot) in place of your computer name.
So, the server name should be .\SQLEXPRESS
A few things:
When you setup and attempt to connect? Always create a FILE dsn. The reasons for this are many, but one really nice reason is that then Access will by default create a DSN-LESS connection. This approach is preferred since then Access remembers the settings, and no external settings (such as registry or even a file (dsn) is used or required. And if you connect to a SQL server on your network? Well then you can distribute the access application to each workstation, and it will "just work" - all without you having to setup a DSN or do anything with the ODBC manager on each station. So, a great tip and habit. So, use a FILE dsn (and if you follow the default prompts when linking tables, a FILE dsn is the default anyway).
Next up:
Make sure the sql server browser service is running. In the past this was often not required, but now it is recommended. That service is this:
Once you sure that service is running?
Make sure that you enabled named Pipes - in fact I would also enable TCP/IP. That is found here:
Ok, now the next question:
Are you using SQL server logons, or Windows authentication?
For now since this is your local stand alone machine? lets go with windows.
As noted, if you have SSMS installed, then see if it can connect. This not only is a quick + easy fast test but it will also tend to give you the hints as to what the server name connect is. (this helps you when you attempt to connect with Access - you can see what worked with SSMS - and better is SSMS does usually figure out the correct computer name for you.
So, from Access, you now choose from ribbon "External" data, and then import and link group - choose ODBC.
the wizard to connect will start. choose "link to the data source".
At this point, the panels that start to launch are the same one you see if you try to use the ODBC manager from the control panel - but in most cases this road is better, since Access will correctly launch the x32 or x64 bit ODBC manager (it makes this correct decision for you).
So you be at a DSN name, but just hit new. Now you have to choose a ODBC (for sql server) driver.
For now, I would try "SQL server". You can choose SQL Server Native Client 11 (or later if you see). Either one is fine. Just keep in future mind that SQL Server driver choice exists on all computers - so for future distribution to other workstations, this is a good choice. The native 11 (or later) driver is NOT installed by default, and you have to install this on other workstations if you want to use that driver if you move or distribute your application to other workstations.
Next, and now you can enter a name for this connection (myTestcon or whatever). Hit finish.
You should now see/be at this screen:
The dropdown for the server name SHOULD appear and work (it make take 30 seconds). So, it should show you a server name, and a sql instance.
Next, and now you have to choose the type of logon
Because this is a local stand alone computer? Well, you can choose windows logons, or sql logons. Being a local computer - choose the default - windows auth.
Next.
NOW VERY VERY important - make sure you change/select the correct database here - SO MANY skip or miss this - and that's painful!!
This one:
So make sure you select/change the default from "master" to your database you created when you sent the data to sql server.
Next - (you can try the test data source). "ok".
Now you are back to the VERY same starting panel. Your "name" should be defaulted for the file connection. This:
So, now just click ok.
You can then select the tables you want to link to.
I am attempting to use a Packaged Solution for my Access 2010 application that has its backend linked to SQL Server. At the moment, I'm using the .accdb file as the frontend, and I would like to distribute my application to some other Windows computers, but the Packaged Solution does not work. I had the package include Access Runtime, so their version of the frontend is running on Runtime and not full Access. However, once the application makes a request to the backend, the application does nothing, as I am not even prompted for the SQL Password as per usual with the full version. I've read on about including a .dsn file in the package can secure the SQL connection (see here), but going through steps of other tutorials to create .dsn files hasn't led to any results. Would anyone know how to correctly generate the .dsn file or if I've done something else wrong at this point?
(And yes, I understanding using Access 2010 in the year 2019 is almost a joke at this point, but I'm doing this for testing purposes. I plan to completely remake the frontend in Angular in the future.)
One other unrelated note... would it be a better idea to have the frontend hosted as a .html file like through the "Publish to Access Services" process? I did read that Access Services was discontinued last year, so would that not be possible?
Edit: This is not a duplicate of "DSN Less Connection (MS Access to SQL2016)" because A) I want to utilize a DSN Connection, not DSN-less and B) I am not using connection strings in my code to hook up with SQL.
You should be able to just create FILE dsn, link your tables, and then distribute the compiled accDE to each desktop.
However, what SQL odbc source provider did you use? If you use the SQL server ODBC provider, then that is by default installed on each computer.
However, if you linked using Native 11 (or later), then that driver is NOT installed on each workstation by default. So, I HIGH recommend you create a FILE dsn (not a user or system DSN), and link the table using that. (Access will create DSN-less links for you)
And you should NOT be seeing a logon prompt with your application. This suggests you forgot or missed the save password option.
So, I would re-link your tables, creating a new FILE DSN. And if you using the linked table manager, then make sure you check the prompt for new location to force creating of a NEW DSN. If you just re-fresh, then you DO NOT get a chance to click on the save password option during the linking process.
So, what odbc driver are you using? The native 11 or later are better, but they are not installed by default on each workstation. However, CAUTION is required here, since the older sql driver does NOT support the newer datetime2 formats. If you used these newer sql column types, they will be returned as string data types in Access and create a mess of issues.
So, first, I would re-link using a FILE dsn.
Make sure you check the save password during the re-link.
You then compile your accDB into an accDE, and then distribute that. You don’t really need to use the package wizard, since once each workstation has the runtime installed, then a simple copy of the accDE to each person’s computer will thus work fine. There is NO special connection between your accDE and the package wizard. Once the runtime is installed, then any and all mdb, accDB, and your accDE can simply be clicked on to launch + run. So for testing, you can skip the package wizard, and just copy the accDE to the target machine, click on it, and see if it works.
Edit
The prompt and check box during this process is this:
So you have to check that box to save the password. Note that you ONLY get this dialog WHEN you create a new FILE dsn.
I've already an offline updater as a download but I want to make it automatically. It's a client/server software and a ms sql database.
3 parts have to be updated:
update of a proprietary software (setup.exe with next, next, type login/password for server service, finish) which delivers a WinClient and a Service for the server. Autoupdate is only needed for server, the autoupdate for clients by the server works already.
one .hug file which contains new customized program version. The path is a directory in the above software and can be determined with registry.
MS SQL database update with new content (in a .bak file) and structural changes. The database server is sometimes another server as application server. At the moment you have to type in the SQL instance when running the udpater.
My ideas are these:
a updater program in the tray on application server and database server
updater searches with a timer for newer versions on my ftp server and downloads the files if existing
on application server it runs the setup.exe and copies the .hug file. Maybe I could make it silent with command prompt commands. But still need to fill in login/password for the service user.
on database server I configure the autoupdater once with instance name. Updater downloads .bak-file and runs sql script with insert, update and alter statements.
but one big problem which can cause problems is when users are still logged in. Don't know in the moment how I could solve that.
So, how would you realise such a project? Or have you already done something similiar? Is its generally possible?
I have written a VB.Net application that uses an SQL Express DB file containing a single table and a handful of stored procedures.
I have successfully built and exported the application to my VPS.
The problem comes when knowing what to do concerning the database file, there is a wealth of stuff online but not specifically to suit my needs.
I plan to use LocalDB on the VPS but being commandline - it is hard to know if the scripts that I have run have been successful after creating an instance , starting it... etc,
I want to keep installation requirements to an absolute minimum on my VPS machine and (in time other end users machines)... hence using LocalDB and not SQL Express
So, what do I have to do on the VPS to enable my application to connect to the database.. ? This was simple when it was Access - (supply the MDB file and run the AccessDatabaseEngine(redistributable) - job done)
The connection on my devt. machine runs as expected.
The connection string in my code is:
Const strSQLConnection As String = "Data Source= (localdb)\v11.0;Database=SoccerTrader;Trusted_Connection=True"
Can anyone help please.. this is driving me around the bend.. surely it cant be that difficult..?
===========================
I have found the following in an MSDN blog which says:
Database as a File: LocalDB connection strings support AttachDbFileName property that allows attaching a database file during the connection process. This lets developers work directly with databases instead of the database server. Assuming a database file (*.MDF file with the corresponding *.LDF file) is stored at “C:\MyData\Database1.mdf” the developer can start working with it by simply using the following connection string: “Data Source=(localdb)\v11.0;Integrated Security=true;AttachDbFileName=C:\MyData\Database1.mdf”.
================ ADDED 12th June =====================
OK, this is really bugging me now... I have read around this till it is coming out of my ears and nothing specifically seems to target what I am trying to do. All the blogs I read refer to installing / running SQL Server and changing permissions etc.
As I have mentioned I am using a VPS and propose to use LocalDB on the VPS to access a simple/small database file for a VB.Net application I am writing.
This is the story so far.
1) I have built a working prototype on my development PC and connected using SQL Express to a database file SoccerTrader.mdf - no problem.
In the Visual Studio Project properties I have added a requirement to the project that checks for SQL Server ..and if it is missing, installs it...
2) I install the project on the VPS and as expected SQL Server 2012 LocalDB is installed .... see here..
3) I have copied the SoccerTrader.MDF and SoccerTrader.LDF files into "C:\BESTBETSoftware\SoccerBot" on the VPS
4) for practical reasons given the problems I am having getting this to work, I have implemented an inputbox for me to specify the connection string when the application runs.... the connection strings I have used give the following...
1]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/i2tro.png
I have not changed any file permissions on the development PC and the database state is NOT read only....
So, the question is where do I go from here...? What have I missed.. why is it not working..?
I have managed to sort the problem.
Seemingly, the connection string I was using was OK. It was my error handling that wasnt 'clean' enough. It transpired the connection was being made on my VPS but when the application attempted to update the table , the directory I had created and put the MDF file into, would not permit write access.
I moved the MDF into the C:\Users\Public\Documents folder and all works as it should.
You have to specify the full path of the Db file with folder name/ip-address
I'm not an expert with TSQL so have patience with me please. So recently I was doing a project in TSQL on my local server using SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio. I was reading my files from a temp file on my C: drive and bulk inserting them into tables at the time.
Then I went and moved to a regular server instead of my local server on my machine.
It took me a bit to realize that I no longer had access to my local machine folders and files, and that is causing me issues.
I've read that one solution is to create a mapped drive on the server, but this is not an option for me.
So my question is what are other options for me? Could I use UNC paths to access my files or anything else?
The files I want to access are regular text files that are comma-delimited and newline terminated.
(I saw somewhat similar questions to mine, but there's seemed server specific or specific to their particular issues. Also none of their questions were answered.)
Actually a mapped drive won't work either because the account SQL runs under by default (local system if I recall) will not have network access.
So, the more reliable way to do this is definitely with a UNC path BUT there is more! (I've done this several times when I've needed to move database backups and log backups across servers for mirroring).
How?
On the SQL server machine AND the other server that will host the share, create a new user (same username and password on both machines) - assuming your not using AD. The user needs not be in any groups at all other than the users group but it must be called the same in both servers and the password must match.
On the SQL server machine change the account that SQL SERVER is running under. This is done in the SQL server configuration tool. Do not try to do this yourself via windows services. Choose the user that you created in no 1 above. Note you have to enter the pw. Restart SQL after you've changed it and verify SQL still runs fine. It should run just as before but now is running as a particular user with all the permissions of that user (which actually are very limited anyhow, but at least the user can access network resources).
On the remote server, make sure the new user has NTFS permissions on the folders that will host your share. Read/write perhaps or just read if SQL is only reading data.
On the remote server, create a share pointing to the appropriate folder that you set permissions for above. Make sure if you're using share permissions that the new user also has permissions on the share (not just on NTFS on the drive).
Once all of this is setup, your SQL scripts simply use the UNC path that points to the remote share and since SQL is running "as" a user with access to that share, SQL will see the files just fine!