Microsoft Access/SQL Server Hosted on Azure

Question

I am wanting to use Microsoft Access to create various dashboards/forms for inventory management, PO requests, and maintenance.  I feel confident in my abilities on the Microsoft Access development end.  I guess what I’m looking for is advice on how to distribute the front-end program to our employees to be able to utilize – this is what I need help with..  The back end would be utilizing SQL server as the database hosted in Azure.

Details

• Microsoft Access 365
• Microsoft Azure (to host SQL Server)
  • Pricing Tier: General Purpose - Serverless: Gen5, 1 vCore
• SSMS v19.0.2
• ~20 people would need to be able to use this, not all at one time. I would say at most 10 people would be using the Access front end at the same time.

I made a trial table & form to test out this process.  I’ve successfully been able to set up Azure with my SQL database and make a connection with SSMS.  I’ve also been able to link a table in Access to the SQL Server and successfully make changes both ways:

 

What I’m confused about doing and running into trouble with is how to build & distribute the front end of my Microsoft Access to users.  I’ve looked up many tutorials and tried many examples.  I’ve went into the VBA in Access to set up a digital signature.  I then saved the document under “Package & Sign”, and a different one as “Make ACCDE”.  I tried trialing the program out on a separate laptop that DOES NOT have Microsoft Suite or Microsoft 365 – I installed Access Runtime.  When I try to open the “Package/Sign” or the “ACCDE” file, it did not work.  I had to install a certificate in the trust directory.  After that, Access Runtime opened, but the screen was blank and did not show my form.  Hopefully all of this makes sense, but basically, I need help in how to close the loop in distributing a final Access “App” to my end user so that it is connected to my SQL server on Azure.

Answer 1

Thanks, that did it! I had to set up the form to automatically open! I really appreciate the help!