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Can I STORE an Access database on Dropbox?

Anonymous
2020-08-22T23:04:27+00:00

Hi, 

I understand I can''t share an Access database on Dropbox and have multiple users at the same time. But is it possible to upload a large and complex Access database so that a colleague can then download it on their computer to work on it? We are 3 colleagues in different places and we need to work on our database, but not at the same time. Each time, we would download it and re-uplooad the new version afterwards. Is it risky? Thank you!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For home | Windows

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  1. George Hepworth 22,400 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-08-22T23:23:52+00:00

    You can store the file on Dropbox, yes. I've done that, as a matter of fact as a consultant working with clients.

    However, there IS a risk if you all intend to work with that same relational database application sequentially. Discipline is crucial here. You can work on your local copy of the accdb if someone else is also working on their own local copy, but doing so will create data problems when you try to reconcile those two copies.

    So, if you can maintain good discipline and avoid that risk, it can work.

    That said, there are other, better ways to share data. One is to obtain a hosted SQL Server instance and migrate your data to it. Then, each of you can connect to that shared data and work as you wish. For as little as $5 a month you can obtain a hosted SQL Server or SQL Azure database. I believe that's going to work well for you here. And you can still use Dropbox to store a backup or master copy of the Access Front End accdb.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-22T23:17:27+00:00

    I'd urge you to read

    https://www.devhut.net/2016/09/24/access-back-end-location-wan-online-server-onedrive-dropbox/

    which covers this subject in detail.

    That said, the manner in which you wish to use it, copy it locally, work, copy it back for others to do the same would be perfectly fine.  Just be careful that no two people take it at the same time or someone will lose their work.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-22T23:50:22+00:00

    Hello Magafra_163

    Storing an Access database file would essentially be like any other data file. The one major consideration is that it is completely self-contained. By that I mean not including any links to any local data files. Beyond that the only major "risk" would be making sure that the file being downloaded is always the latest version and not having 2 people download the same file at the same time.

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  1. George Hepworth 22,400 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-08-23T01:14:47+00:00

    I would say an even BIGGER risk is letting two people download their own copies to work on simultaneously. User A adds three records to a table. User B adds two different records to the same table. Who ever saves their copy LAST wins. The other user's records are gone. That's too great a risk, IMO, to consider this anything other than a backup or distribution mechanism for an interface, or FE, accdb, with the data safely stored elsewhere.

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