Access - Data access pages

Data access pages - Introduction

A data access page is a special type of web page that allows users to interface with your database using Internet Explore 5.0 +. It is designed for viewing and working with data from the Internet or an intranet — data that is stored in an Access database or a SQL Server database. The data access page may also include data from other sources, such as Excel. Only those with Office 2000 installed on their system can use data access pages.

Where data access pages can be viewed and used

In Microsoft Access - You can work with a data access page in Page view in Access. Data access pages can supplement the forms and reports that you use in your database application. When deciding whether to design a data access page, form or report, consider the tasks that you want to perform.
In Internet Explorer - A data access page is connected directly to a database. When users display the data access page in Internet Explorer, they are viewing their own copy of the page. That means any filtering, sorting, and other changes they make to the way the data is displayed affect only their copy of the data access page. Changes that they make to the data itself are stored in the underlying database. To view and work with the data access page on the Internet or an intranet, users need Internet Explorer 5 or higher.

Different types of data access pages

The different types of data access pages depend on what you want to do with the data in the page. You can use a data access page to

Enter and edit data
Analyse data
Make projections
Review data

Designing different types of data access pages

You design data access pages in page Design view in Access. The page is a separate file that is stored outside Access. When you create the file, Access automatically adds a shortcut to the file in the database window. Designing a data access page is similar to designing forms and reports — you use a field list, the toolbox, controls, the sorting and grouping dialog box, and so on.

There are some significant differences in the way that you design and interact with data access pages as opposed to forms and reports. How you design the page depends on what it will be used for:

Data entry - This type of data access page is used to view, add, and edit records.
Interactive reporting - This type of data access page is often used to consolidate and group information that is stored in the database, and then publish summaries of the data. Using expand indicators, you can go from a general summary of the information to specific details. While the data access page may also provide toolbar buttons for sorting and filtering the data, you can't edit data on this type of page.
Data analysis - This type of data access page may include a PivotTable list that lets you reorganize the data to analyse it in different ways; a chart that you can use to analyse trends, detect patterns, and compare data in your database; or a spreadsheet in which you can enter and edit data, and use formulas to calculate as you do in Excel.

Java applet support

A Java applet is a small software program written in the Java language, a programming language used primarily on the World Wide Web. A Java applet is a separate file referenced by an HTML document. A Java applet might be used to add animation, music, database operations, or updates to a web page. When you open a web page that contains a Java applet in Microsoft Access, an icon representing the applet appears on the page. The icon does not appear when you view the web page in a browser or when you print your web page.

This tip sheet includes elementary information on data access pages. Use the Help menu in Access 2000 to look for additional information under 'Data access page'.