Interfacing with MS Access

Before commencing this tutorial, i have to say that for the ODBC setup section,
I used the work
of Leo West. His page
on ODBC setup and interfacing with Ms-SQL server was most usefull to my original work project…
Until my boss changed the project specs to make the database to be MS-Access, instead of MySQL.
If you need to find out more information about SQL, go
here.

 

Summary of Contents

1. Creating an Access database
2. Setting up an ODBC Connection
3. Interfacing with database

I am going to assume a *little* experience in databases. Having said that, I’m
really only hoping that you know how to create a database and insert tables
into that database.

Requirements

1. Apache/Web server of some kind
2. PHP 3.0 (at least)
3. Ms-Access (Version 97+)
4. Wordpad for editing PHP
5. Windows 9x+ of some working *grin* description

Files used in this tutorial (remove .sid extension to make functional)

1. The Access Database
2. The PHP form
3. The PHP file which acts on information passed in from the form.

I have given directions on exactly how to make the above files. But just in case
my directions aren’t 100% correct, you can download a working copy of the relevant
software.

Important Notes

Throughout this tutorial, i have assumed that the person who will interface with
the database will have full read and write priveleges to the database. It is best
in any circumstance to make sure you have read and write priveleges to the
database. Having said that, please, please, please try out these techniques on a
sample database located on a ‘local’ machine. I know first hand the trouble caused
if you screw up a company database upon which most of the company relies.

So, it’s onto the tutorial.