Converting a Microsoft Access Application Using the Upsizing Wizard

If you are converting an existing Microsoft Access application, or plan on prototyping your application in Microsoft Access before converting it to a client/server application, consider using the Upsizing Wizard to perform your initial conversion. The Upsizing Wizard is part of the Microsoft Access Upsizing Tools, which you can find on the companion CD-ROM or on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/AccessDev/AccInfo/AUT97dat.htm.

The Upsizing Wizard runs as a Microsoft Access 97 add-in. The Upsizing Wizard works with Microsoft SQL Server versions 4.21, 6.0, and 6.5. It performs the following tasks:

• Re-creates the structure of all Microsoft Access tables on your server
  
  
• Creates indexes on your server
  
  
• Creates as many validation rules as possible on your server
  
  
• Replaces incrementing AutoNumber fields with Identity columns (for Microsoft SQL Server 6.0 and 6.5) or with server triggers, a special form of stored procedure that is automatically executed by the server when data in a specified table is modified (for Microsoft SQL Server 4.21 or later)
  
  
• Creates triggers (for Microsoft SQL Server 4.21 or later) or uses Declarative Referential Integrity (for Microsoft SQL Server 6.0 and 6.5) to enforce referential integrity on your server
  
  
• Renames server tables and columns as necessary to conform to Microsoft SQL Server naming rules
  
  
• Exports your Microsoft Access data to your server
  
  
• Creates links to Microsoft SQL Server tables in your Microsoft Access application
  
  
• Creates queries as necessary to map changed SQL Server column and table names back to their original names in your Microsoft Access application

The Upsizing Wizard won’t turn your Microsoft Access application into a fully optimized client/server application, but it enables you to prototype your database’s structure using Microsoft Access design tools, and makes it much simpler to re-create your database on Microsoft SQL Server. You can then concentrate on optimizing your client/server application using the principles and techniques discussed in this chapter.