Microsoft Access 2007 applications executed on PCs and tablets. Data collection is localized to the device. The goal is to re-develop the applications so that immediate data collection is still local, with the capability to synchronize data collections back to a SQL server-it will be the main data source for running reports. Could some inut be provided for the following questions:
- Is it possible to employ SQL Server to synchronize/obtain the data collections out of the localized Access 2007 applications? Does "sysnchronization" requires both dB's, local and server, to support this technology? The desire is to only update/synchronize new data from the local application/dB. Access, in particular 2007, does not support synchonization.
- If redevelopment is the appropriate option. Can using Visual Basic for the development of: input interfaces for the local devices and output reporting from the SQL Server backend be a good development approach? (Assuming again, that SQL Server would be the best option for the backend with synchronization support). What type of data collection tool/technology should be used on the localized devices? Would these be SQL dBs as well?
The reasoning behind this choice of toolsets, Visual Basic and SQL Server, is that VB would not be an as demanding tool to learn in a timely manner as the other languages, and SQL Server supports synchronization.
Developement experience has been learning SQL to develop the database queries for the Access 2007 applications, the Access wizards were used to develop the interfaces for data input and report generation.
Input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.