Distributing Databases
Discussion
Does anybody know the best/cheapest option for distributing some software with a database app embeded?
e.g. if we want to create a contact system based on an Access database but with our own frontend. Does the user need an access licence?
Other options to consider would my mysql I suppose, but it needs the server software installing. And costs $300.
Has anybody written their own database software to handle 100k records for example?
TIA
e.g. if we want to create a contact system based on an Access database but with our own frontend. Does the user need an access licence?
Other options to consider would my mysql I suppose, but it needs the server software installing. And costs $300.
Has anybody written their own database software to handle 100k records for example?
TIA
DO NOT USE ACCESS FOR THIS.
You are forced to give each user a copy of the database, which is set up for replication. This causes no end of problems, because you each have to synchronise at the end of each day.
So if any more than 2 of you have a copy, you much create a synchronisation plan (who synchronises with who, and when do they do it) and it's just such a mess.
A far better way is to centralise a database, and have each person connect to it remotely. MySQL is a good idea, although you will have to pay for hosting. This can be had for as little as £100 per year though.
You could even set up your own server with a broadband connection. As long as you have a static IP address for the connection this would also work very well.
You are forced to give each user a copy of the database, which is set up for replication. This causes no end of problems, because you each have to synchronise at the end of each day.
So if any more than 2 of you have a copy, you much create a synchronisation plan (who synchronises with who, and when do they do it) and it's just such a mess.
A far better way is to centralise a database, and have each person connect to it remotely. MySQL is a good idea, although you will have to pay for hosting. This can be had for as little as £100 per year though.
You could even set up your own server with a broadband connection. As long as you have a static IP address for the connection this would also work very well.
It's not going to be a web app - it'll be written in delphi and run on windows.
Can't access manage concurrent connections with the main db sat on a server?
Sorry to sound daft, but I'm used to working with Oracle.
I'm thinking more along the lines of licence requirements of using an mdb file over a full db server software setup.
>> Edited by size13 on Monday 15th November 11:17
Can't access manage concurrent connections with the main db sat on a server?
Sorry to sound daft, but I'm used to working with Oracle.
I'm thinking more along the lines of licence requirements of using an mdb file over a full db server software setup.
>> Edited by size13 on Monday 15th November 11:17
Access can hold concurrent connections (255 theoretically), but it cannot solve any queries on the server.
If you have your typical Order (100 records) and Order_Line (1000 records) tables, and you want to know the items ordered for a given order, access will send you all 100 Order records, and all 1000 Order_Line records.
Upon receiving the data, the MS Jet Engine will throw away the 99 Order records it doesn't want, and the 995 or so Order_Line records it doesn't want.
You can see the problem!
MySQL doesn't need to be a web app database. As long as it can be connected to remotely via an IP address, you can use it from a Windows application.
Haven't used Delphi, but can't see a problem as long as it can support ODBC connections.
If you have your typical Order (100 records) and Order_Line (1000 records) tables, and you want to know the items ordered for a given order, access will send you all 100 Order records, and all 1000 Order_Line records.
Upon receiving the data, the MS Jet Engine will throw away the 99 Order records it doesn't want, and the 995 or so Order_Line records it doesn't want.
You can see the problem!
MySQL doesn't need to be a web app database. As long as it can be connected to remotely via an IP address, you can use it from a Windows application.
Haven't used Delphi, but can't see a problem as long as it can support ODBC connections.
"Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) is the free, redistributable version of SQL Server that’s ideal for client applications that require an embedded database, new developers learning how to build data-driven applications, and Web sites serving up to 25 concurrent users."
www.microsoft.com/sql/msde/default.asp
>> Edited by tim_s on Monday 15th November 12:56
www.microsoft.com/sql/msde/default.asp
>> Edited by tim_s on Monday 15th November 12:56
tim_s said:
have a look into MSDE (Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine) which is designed for desktop apps. it's basically a cut down version of sql server.
www.microsoft.com/sql/msde/default.asp
>> Edited by tim_s on Monday 15th November 12:55
Thanks for that - reading nowThere are some other alternatives
Sql Express is due out soon, expected to be very cheap or free
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/
and VistaDB which looks good, small, seemingly quite fast, however does not yet support stored procs, and I did get a couple of issues when using it, but nothing that could not be worked around.
www.vistadb.net/
Cheers
Paul
Sql Express is due out soon, expected to be very cheap or free
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/
and VistaDB which looks good, small, seemingly quite fast, however does not yet support stored procs, and I did get a couple of issues when using it, but nothing that could not be worked around.
www.vistadb.net/
Cheers
Paul
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