Database Development:
Does your business have important information that needs to be stored, retrieved,
analyzed and secured? Many organizations grow to a point where they find that
their important business data is being maintained in disconnected and hard-to-use
formats. It is not uncommon for businesses to keep irreplaceable information
in spreadsheets and word processing documents. In order for your business
or organization to truly leverage its data, it needs to be stored in a relational
database.
There are several relational database products in the market today. By far,
the most common and well supported of these database systems are Microsoft's Access
and SQL Server. Garrett Development and Consulting has extensive experience
with both of these database systems and will work with your organization to implement
the right choice for you.
Access Databases:
Microsoft Access is a desktop database system primarily used by small businesses
and individuals that do not need to share data with multiple users. Access
allows relatively quick development because all database tables, queries, forms,
and reports are stored in the database. For query development, Access utilizes the
Query Design Grid, a graphical user interface that allows users to create queries
without knowledge of the SQL programming language. In the Query Design Grid, users
can "show" the source tables of the query and select the fields they want returned
by clicking and dragging them into the grid. Joins can be created by clicking and
dragging fields in tables to fields in other tables. Access allows users to view
and manipulate the SQL code if desired.
MS Access database solutions are ideal for departmental data tracking, and for small
businesses with limited users that need relatively powerful reporting and data management
tools. Access databases can also be used as "front ends" to provide custom
reporting, data retrieval and analysis against a client-server database system such
as SQL Server. Access databases are not recommended for enterprise level solutions
or as back-ends for data-driven websites.
SQL Server
SQL Server is the flag ship database system from Microsoft and is used by some of
the world's largest organizations (including Microsoft of course).
If your organization needs to share information with multiple users using various front-ends,
SQL Server is probably the best fit.
SQL Server can be used to manage a wide variety of data, is robust and scalable,
is secure and can be used as the back-end for Windows applications, Internet websites,
intranet portals, MS Access databases and more. SQL Server offers many advanced
features not found in MS Access databases such as Triggers, Stored Procedures, Transactions
and User Defined Data Types and Functions.