Is PHP the right tool to replace MS Access?

[glenn69]

Hello,

 

I currently maintain a small business database in MS Access.

For many reasons I am trying to convert our entire network to Linux based machines.

I plan to replace the Access database with a MySQL database.

 

My question:

Is PHP the most appropriate tool to create an "Access-like" frontend for the new MySQL backend?

 

What are the pro's and con's?

 

I appreciate your input...sometimes the basic questions are the most difficult to locate answers to.

 

Thanks

 

[teng84]

i believe there will be no cons.. if you have develop a good software out of php and mysql

Pros? Everything will be very handy and easy 

[Barand]

Access and PHP are two completely different animals.

 

MySQL is a much more powerful backend database for your company than Access.

 

But that leaves you with the front-end.

 

CON: Input forms and reports are going to need rewriting from scratch and PHP isn't going to give you the same form and report creation tools.

 

PRO: Deployment across the company is going to be easier with an intranet based application. All each PC will need is a browser. Change the PHP script on the server and everyone receives the updated version. No need to re-install the front end mdb on everyone's PC.

 

As an intermediate step you could transfer the data to MySQL and have your frontend mdb files connect to that via ODBC

[mainewoods]

you might want to check out phpmyadmin, a tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the Web:

http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/index.php