[SOLVED] Open Database Connectivity question

[Schlo_50]

This is more of a question than a problem.

 

I have been working on a project for a while now which uses open database connectivity (PHP and MS Access database) and all of the testing so far has been carried out locally using apache.

 

Can anyone point out to me the main things i need to configure /do when attempting to test my project online? I had to setup the ODBC connection on my computer using various settings and im wondering how this applies to using a server?

 

Any advice? I just want to eliminate most of the problems that are likely to occur when uploading and testing as 've worked quite hard on this and it would be nice for it to work well! lol

 

Thanks guys

[matto]

Well first of all you are likely to need an ODBC connection setup on the server and if you are going to be using MS Access it's likely to restrict you to a Windows hosting environment.

 

It's likely the host will require tighter security and I'm not sure of many providers that like the idea of hosting a PHP -> MS Access envirnoment.

 

I would recommend use MySQL over MS Access, there are a number of benefits for doing so.

 

1. I beleive MS Access can only handle a certain amount of con-current connections, not too mention is less secure.

2. You do not need an ODBC connection to the database.

3. Better performance

4. Can run on both Windows and *unix hosts

.....the list could go on.......

 

Anyway, if you are interested MySQL have a free migration tool that would allow you to migrate you MS Access database over to MySQL in a few simple mouse clicks.....

 

http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/migration-toolkit/

 

[Schlo_50]

Thanks for the advice.

 

mySQL woud be my choice too. But what the customer wants the customer gets, and my company are the server hosts so as long as security is tight it will be fine. The majority of the project is flat file driven, it's simply a price list that the access database will be used for.

 

Thank-you again!

[matto]

Well, if it has to be that way then here is something to consider:

 

Make sure the database is stored outside of the web root folder. If the database is going to be written to it's like the folder it resides within will need to have write access. Storing the database outside of the web root folder will also stop users from being able to download the entire database.....