Hi,
We are currently running a VB6 application that uses ADO2.6 to access data from MsAccess files specified by the user (the application is installed on each user's machine). The database files are used via the application's File New/Open/Save menus and can reside locally or anywhere in a network. Each user will typically have many database files in his "project" which he will open and work with, one at a time.
We are considering converting to .NET where the application will sit on a Web server. Is it possible to :
1) use MsAccess databases using ADO.NET (I get the impression that SQLServer is "the thing")
2) can the user via the .Net application specify the path to his desired MsAccess file and open it. The file can sit anywhere on the network or client. (I have again the impression that .NET applications using ADO.NET use one central database sitting on the server only?)
Any input, anybody ? Thanks !
Anne

1) yes. ms access can be used with ADO.NET, but if you have SQL Server, use it instead. Access does not do well on the web.
2) If you are using ADO.NET programatically, you can have the user select a file with the file dialog or something simmilar and use that for the source of your ADO.NET code. There is not much difference in that respect.
I haven't worked extensibly with ado.net, but it is much nicer than ADO.



Sal

Thanks !
Can you then tell me what connection Object/String to use to connect to an MSAccess database ? What must the Provider keyWord be ? When I finally deploy my Windows application (this is NOT a Web application), do I need to include special files (something like the Database Jet Engine) in order for my application to work with Access ?

Finally, are there any books you would recommend on ADO.NET in Windows Forms Applications that also addresses Access as a DB and not only SQL Server ?