Access Web App Hosting from Office 365 is here

Access Hosting is proud to announce that we have partnered with Microsoft to develop a scalable and ongoing Azure cloud hosting solution to the retirement of Access Web Apps in Office 365.  As many of you are aware Office 365 will be retiring and deactivating Access Web Apps in the coming months.  We have been working with them behind the scenes to create a hosting solution backed by the power of Azure.

We are happy to announce that this hosting solution is now available.  Anyone can sign up for a free 30 day trial over here and should be able to easily export their access app package and upload it to our service by following this easy step by step tutorial.

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How to migrate your Office 365 Access Web App to Access Hosting

After signing up for our Office 365 compatible Access Web App hosting plan, you can easily migrate your existing MS Access database over to our solution in a matter of minutes.

1. Visit your Office 365 Access Web App in the browser and click the ‘customize in access button’

2. Open the downloaded access database .accdw file in Access and then login using your Office 365 credentials.

3. Navigate to the file menu and select save database as -> save as a package

4. Name the database package file and be sure to select the ‘include all data in package’ option before clicking OK

5. Visit your Access Hosting site and login (this information was provided to you via an email when you signed up for this service, if you have not signed up please do so here, http://accesshosting.com/microsoft-access-web-app-sharepoint-2016)

6. Click the gear in the upper right and select add an app. Then search the app catalog for Access apps and click the Access app.

7. Then type “access” into the search box

8. Then select “Access Apps” icon

9. When prompted, be sure to select the ‘upload an .app package’ option – this will allow you to choose the .app package you saved to your computer from Office 365.

10. Choose the .app file saved to your computer and click create.

Now you have your Office 365 access web app safely uploaded to our hosting service.  If you run into any problems during this process, please open a support ticket and we will be happy to get you up and running on our hosting platform.

Sign-up here for a free trial of our Access Web Apps hosting plan built on Azure.

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Microsoft Azure RemoteApp is no more, but don’t worry we can help!

New purchases of Azure RemoteApp ended October 1st, 2016, so where do you go if you need RemoteApp hosting? For the time being Microsoft will continue to support existing Azure RemoteApp customers on the service through August 31st, 2017, when the service will be shutdown – but then what?

For those unaware, Microsoft Azure RemoteApp brought the functionality of the on-premises Microsoft RemoteApp program, backed by Remote Desktop Services, to Azure. Azure RemoteApp helps you provide secure, remote access to applications from many different user devices. Azure RemoteApp hosted non-persistent Terminal Server sessions in the cloud.  This technology is very similar to our long offered Remote Desktop Hosting Services.  It is the same basic technology stack but RemoteApp direclty launches a specific application rather than a full windows virtual environment.  We have already been contacted by a lot of Azure RemoteApp customers and are happy to report that we are happy to offer a hosting alternative to Azure RemoteApp (or the expense of Citrix).  We are happy to announce that we are more than capable of creating an RDP RemoteApp server for your business needs.  We believe that we can offer low-cost hosting plans for remoteApps of any Microsoft Office programs (including MS Access) and if you’ve developed your own Windows Software or specialized app, we can setup a dedicated Windows RemoteApp Server to host and distribute your software in the cloud.

Please contact our technical team if you’re interested in setting up a free RemoteApp Trial.

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5 Hidden Costs of Hosting Your Database On-Premise

When it comes to storing your critical business database, there are two basic optics – hosting your own database yourself or outsourcing the hosting to another company. Your initial thought is likely that on-premise hosting will help your business save money compared to paying others, and from the standpoint of hosting fees, that would seem logical. In addition, self-hosting gives you more control. However, hosting your database yourself has several hidden costs that you’ll want to consider before deciding on the best hosting solution.

Hardware and Maintenance Costs

One of the most obvious types of costs you’ll incur by self-hosting your database are hardware and maintenance costs. It will be up to your team to determine the specifications you’ll need on your server to support your database hosting needs – and then purchase the required hardware. The costs to maintain your hosting hardware will also be purely your responsibility, whether the maintenance work is done in-house or outsourced.

Electricity and Bandwidth

On-premise hosting means you will also be responsible for the cost of the electricity required to run your hosting hardware. This not only includes the amount of power you will consume for your data center, but also the electricity needed to properly cool your data storage system. Along with electricity, you will also have bandwidth expenses, which can vary based on the speed your hosting needs require.

Cost of IT Personnel

Finally, if you choose to use on-premise hosting for your business database needs, you will likely want to use in-house staff to oversee and provide maintenance for your hardware. This means salary costs, payroll tax and other costs for one or more IT personnel. While in some cases these IT team members may be able to work on other tasks as well, larger hosting requirements may require a dedicated staff member for this aspect of your business.

If you’re considering hosting your business database in-house, it’s important to weigh all of the advantage and disadvantages. Understanding the true costs of on-premise hosting will help you make the right decision for your organization. Remember that we offer a variety of 30 day free trials for hosting Access and SQL Databases.

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The 5 Pitfalls of Windows Azure Hosting

Windows Azure is one of the pillars in the cloud-hosting market, and ranks second only to Amazon’s AWS cloud-hosting services. The company even announced in Q3 of 2016 that full government compliance was finally in order. However, for the average user not looking for enterprise solutions, it’s often still considered damaged goods.

Despite this, the pitfalls of Windows Azure hosting aren’t always obvious. For instance, many issues are only discovered later on, although the damage may be irreparable by then. Since this could set you up for failure, it’s important to know the drawbacks you’re likely to face.

Take a look below at five of the biggest issues facing Windows Azure hosting subscribers today.

1. More Bugs

With Azure, you will find that bugs become more plentiful with time. Eventually there will be a devastating issue that requires major technical support. If you’re not paying for support with your plan, you will be in for a big headache. The workarounds that Windows Azure Hosting clients receive are sub-par to say the least. Some users are even instructed to do hours of PowerShell scripting to repair the problem.

2. PowerShell Pains

The scripting interface simply isn’t very good. In fact, a simple online search of PowerShell problems will make it clear that many users are frustrated with it. Similar to how many people get into web development, but despise learning how to code in PHP, the steep learning curve and limited functionality of PowerShell are a big barrier. This can increase the time you spend managing your product. This shouldn’t be something you have to worry about.

3. Support Costs

You have to pay to upgrade and get developer support. This is brutal, as 24/7 expert support should be mandatory in any premium cloud-hosting package. Paying $29 or more a month just to have the help is not logical. However, horrific problems have plagued users in the past, which has made support a necessary cost. You don’t want this reliance.

4. Recurring Outages

Somehow, Azure has managed to face a number of outages in recent years. For example, the whole Azure DNS was wiped out multiple times this year. This resulted in a couple hours of downtime. One customer even had a full nine days of downtime, which is beyond unacceptable by any standard. On top of all that, Azure was recognized as having worse downtime problems than any other major provider. You want reliability if you pay for a big name. Unfortunately, you’re sometimes just buying the logo.

5. High Cost

In all reality, you’re going to end up paying for the developer upgrade support package to make sure everything runs safe. This exposes you to a significant increase in service costs. You’re better off getting from any hosting provider that offers support as an included feature. Why pay more when you don’t have to?

As you can see, there are quite a few problems that Azure hosting users face. From the limited scripting help to many bugs, and much more, most are left wishing for a simpler solution.

With the services we offer, you don’t have to worry, since scripting help is always there for you. Sometimes a smaller hosting provider is a good thing — kind of like how banking with a credit union can work in your favor. If you’re looking for the A-B-C approach, nothing could be simpler than our hosting plans.

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How to delete files from Sharepoint (Empty the Recycle Bin)

View, restore, or delete items in the Recycle Bin of a SharePoint site

The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting documents, list items, lists, folders and files. When you or site visitors delete any of these items from a Web site, the items are placed in the Recycle Bin.

Overview

Items in the Recycle Bin remain there until you decide to permanently delete them from your Web site, or until the items are permanently deleted after a set number of days, which is based on a schedule defined in Central Administration. When you delete an item from a Web site, the item is sent to the site’s Recycle Bin. If you click Recycle Bin on the Quick Launch, you can see all of the items that you’ve deleted from your site. You can either restore or delete the item from the Recycle Bin. When you delete an item from the Recycle Bin, the item is sent to the Site Collection Recycle Bin.

 

1. End-user deletes the Agenda document from a document library.

2. The document is moved to the Recycle Bin for the site, where people can restore it or delete it.

3. If the file is deleted from the site Recycle Bin, it is sent to the Site Collection Recycle Bin, where an administrator can restore it or delete it permanently.

The Site Collection Recycle Bin gives the administrator of a site collection greater control over deleted items by providing you with a second stage safety net before an item is permanently deleted from a site. By default, a second stage Recycle Bin stores items that you delete from your Recycle Bin. When you delete an item from your Recycle Bin, the item is sent to a second stage Recycle Bin that the administrator of the site collection manages.

The Recycle Bin is enabled in a site collection by default, and is configured in Central Administration at the site collection level. When enabled at this level, the central administrator can specify how long items remain in the Recycle Bin before the items are emptied. The central administrator can also disable the second stage Recycle Bin, or disable the Recycle Bin in a site collection altogether.

As a site collection administrator, you can view and manage deleted items across a site collection from the Site Collection Recycle Bin page. From this page, you can view items that are currently in a user’s Recycle Bin and items that a user has deleted from his or her Recycle Bin (which is the second stage Recycle Bin). Users who delete an item in the Recycle Bin can contact you to restore the item back to its original location as long as the item hasn’t exceeded the original deleted date that the central administrator set. By default, items in the Recycle Bin are deleted automatically after 30 days. Regardless of whether or not an item is sent to the users’ Recycle Bin or to the Site Collection Recycle Bin, items are deleted automatically after the number of days that the central administrator specified.

View items in the Recycle Bin

  1. On the top-level site, click the Site Actions menu (or the gear icon in newer versions of Sharepoint) , click Site Settings, then click Modify All Site Settings.

    NOTE: On a site for which the Site Actions menu is customized, point to Site Settings, and then click the settings that you want to view.

  2. On the Site Settings page, in the Site Collection Administration section, click Recycle bin.
  3. On the Site Collection Recycle Bin page, in the Select a View section, do one of the following:
    • To view items that the user has sent to the Recycle Bin, click End user Recycle Bin items.
    • To view items that the user has deleted from the Recycle Bin and has sent to the Site Collection Recycle Bin, click Deleted from end user Recycle Bin.

Delete items in the Recycle Bin

  1. On the top-level site, click the Site Actions menu (or gear icon), click Site Settings, then click Modify All Site Settings.

    NOTE: On a site for which the Site Actions menu is customized, point to Site Settings, and then click the settings that you want to view.

  2. On the Site Settings page, in the Site Collection Administration section, click Recycle bin.
  3. On the Site Collection Recycle Bin page, in the Select a View section, do one of the following:
    • To view items that the user has sent to the Recycle Bin, click End user Recycle Bin items.
    • To view items that the user has deleted from the Recycle Bin and sent to the Site Collection Recycle Bin, click Deleted from end user Recycle Bin.
  4. Select the check box next to the items that you want to delete. To select all of the items at once, select the check box next to Type.
  5. Click Delete Selection.

    NOTE: When you view items in End user Recycle Bin Items, the items that you delete are sent to Deleted from end user Recycle Bin.

Keep in mind that only the Site Collection administrator can permanently delete all of the files from the Recycle bin and free up the storage space.

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Access Hosting Is Offering 30 Percent Off its Hosting Plans Until the End of the Year!

To finish out the year 2016, hosting provider Access Hosting is offering customers a valuable 30 percent discount on their hosting plans. The offered discount code, DATABASE30, will save customers 30 percent on up to three months of the company’s hosting services. To receive the discount, purchasers simply select the plan that fits their needs and enter the discount code at the end of the checkout page. The 30 percent discount code can be applied to any of Access Hosting’s plans; by contacting the company directly and referencing the coupon code, customers can also apply the discount to Access Hosting’s dedicated servers.

This end-of-the-year savings opportunity allows potential customers to experience Access Hosting’s Microsoft-focused services at a significantly discounted rate. Ranging in price from $8 to $499 monthly, the company’s web and hosting solutions include Windows Dedicated Servers, Remote Desktop Hosting, SQL Server 2012 Hosting, Access 2010 Web Database, Access 2013 Web App and more. This variety of options allows Access Hosting to provide more personalized solutions that fit each customer’s unique needs. From small businesses and MS Access developers to clients in tax and accounting, as well as healthcare, the company has experience working with a variety of clients and looks forward to the opportunity to help new companies move their database storage to the cloud.

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How to Create a Login Form for MS Access

Before creating a Login Form, you need to set up a user table that can verify the login ID and password on the Login Form. The step of creating Login Form can be followed below:

Create a table tblSecurity with a SecurityID and SecurityLevel field and add admin for SecurityID =1 and user for SecurityID =2

securitystep1

Create a table tblUser with a UserName, UserLogin, UserSecurity and UserPassword fields.  Remember to add an input mask on the password field so that passwords are not blatantly visible in the table.

securitystep2

I choose to display the type of user rather than just the raw number of the User’s security level by using the Lookup options in the design view. This way the UserType field is a number corresponding to the User’s security level because it refers to the SecurityID in the tblSecurity but displays the user’s UserType in text (admin, user etc.). You can create the UserType field from the Lookup Wizard on the dropdown of Data Type column.

usertype

Create a Login Form from the Dialog form design. Then customize the form to your liking.

how-to-create-a-user-login-form-in-ms-access

Create two text boxes in the Login Form as txtUserName with label Login Name and txtPassword with label Password

create-a-login-form-ms-access-2016

Under the “On Click Event” of the Cancel button, add the Embedded Macro with a QuitAccess command to exit the program or Access application

how-to-creat-a-login-form-macro

Create a Navigation and Admin Form area to reroute your users to the appropriate area of your database application.

Under On Click Event of the OK button, add the VBA code below under the Event Procedure

Option Compare Database

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim User As String
Dim UserLevel As Integer
Dim TempPass As String
Dim ID As Integer
Dim UserName As String
Dim TempID As String


If IsNull(Me.txtUserName) Then
 MsgBox "Please enter UserName", vbInformation, "Username required"
 Me.txtUserName.SetFocus
ElseIf IsNull(Me.txtPassword) Then
 MsgBox "Please enter Password", vbInformation, "Password required"
 Me.txtPassword.SetFocus
Else
 If (IsNull(DLookup("UserLogin", "tblUser", "UserLogin = '" & Me.txtUserName.Value & "' And UserPassword = '" & Me.txtPassword.Value & "'"))) Then
 MsgBox "Invalid Username or Password!"
 Else
 TempID = Me.txtUserName.Value
 UserName = DLookup("[UserName]", "tblUser", "[UserLogin] = '" & Me.txtUserName.Value & "'")
 UserLevel = DLookup("[UserType]", "tblUser", "[UserLogin] = '" & Me.txtUserName.Value & "'")
 TempPass = DLookup("[UserPassword]", "tblUser", "[UserLogin] = '" & Me.txtUserName.Value & "'")
 UserLogin = DLookup("[UserLogin]", "tblUser", "[UserLogin] = '" & Me.txtUserName.Value & "'")
 DoCmd.Close
 If (TempPass = "password") Then
 MsgBox "Please change Password", vbInformation, "New password required"
 DoCmd.OpenForm "frmUserinfo", , , "[UserLogin] = " & UserLogin
 Else
 'open different form according to user level
 If UserLevel = 1 Then ' for admin
 DoCmd.OpenForm "Admin Form"
 Else
 DoCmd.OpenForm "Navigation Form"
 End If

 End If
 End If
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
Me.txtUserName.SetFocus
End Sub

Set the Login Form to display immediately when the Access Database is opened. Go to File->Options and select the Current Database option from the list. Then set the Login Form as the display form.

set-a-display-form-for-when-access-first-opens

It should be noted that while this login procedure is helpful to have permissions and different roles withing your Access database and may be needed for our Remote Desktop Hosting – it is not necessary for any hosted Access Web App or Sharepoint Application since you can use the Sharepoint user roles and login procedures rather than handling it within the Access Database itself.

Posted in Access 2016, Remote Desktop Hosting, Tutorial | Tagged , , | 51 Comments

What’s New in Microsoft Outlook 2016?

office-365-groups-in-outlook-2016

Although its design has remained relatively the same over the last few years, Microsoft Outlook for 2016 has some powerful new features to improve your email workflow and organize your messages better. Let’s take a closer look.

Clutter Support

One of the biggest improvements for Microsoft Outlook in 2016 is the new Clutter feature. It allows you to tell Outlook which messages are important to you and which ones are not. It doesn’t delete lower priority emails outright but separates them to the side. It uses machine learning to decide what is important based on a number of criteria, including how many other people are receiving the email, your connection to the sender and how often you respond to a specific person’s correspondence.

Ongoing Upgrades

Because so little has changed, upgrading to MS Outlook 2016 from the previous version should be relatively pain-free. Unlike previous iterations where new features and updates were put off until the next major update, now new features and fixes will be updated on an ongoing basis.

OneDrive Cloud Connection

MS Outlook continues to create a deeper connection with cloud storage. For example, when you click on the Attach File icon, you will be presented with a menu rather than a browser search box. You can choose to search through your online storage such as OneDrive for Business or your personal OneDrive account. This saves you an extra step of downloading a file to your hard drive and then attaching it from there.

Tell Me

One nifty new feature is the “Tell me what you want to do” tab and light bulb icon at the top of the Ribbon. Rather than just search for a help topic, the “Tell me” function will search through Outlook’s database and automatically present the correct command or topic.

Get Back @ Me

You can simply type somebody’s name preceded by the @ symbol in an email message and their name will be automatically highlighted. In addition, Microsoft Outlook will put their name in the “To” box automatically.

Photo Preview

Have you ever received an email that says photos are attached, but you dreaded downloading the photos to your hard drive just to see if they are worth pursuing? Now you can see an image of each photo in the message itself, so you can judge right away if you want to see the bigger version.

Push Email Support

If you ever get tired of hitting the “Get Mail” button, you’ll be happy to know that Outlook 2016 now has Push email support built-in. New messages will be pushed to your Outlook inbox as soon as they come into the server.

Email Groups

Email conversation chains can quickly become confusing and disjointed. The new Groups feature in Microsoft Outlook 2016 allows you to build group sets with people you want to be able to engage in conversation threads much like an online chat. This feature is partly a competitive response to popular chat applications like Slack, but Outlook Groups provides seamless integration with other OneDrive and Outlook calendars.

Better Calendars

Calendar enhancements include the ability to see weather forecasts for upcoming dates and the choice to offer new times in response to invitations for meetings and events. You can also view multiple calendars at the same time, simplifying the task of coordinating your disparate schedules with a variety of stakeholders.

Although the Microsoft Outlook user interface changes have been minor in 2016, mostly made to keep the program’s appearance consistent across desktop and mobile devices, under the hood it’s a different story. For 2016, Microsoft has added features that address many of the suggestions made by users over the last few years, and new enhancements will be introduced on a constant basis. Business moves so fast today that it’s important to have the latest features at hand. Outlook for 2016 will help you work more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

Keep in mind that you can take advantage of all of these new outlook features and integrate it into your MS Access database online in our private remote desktop hosting cloud.

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What’s New in Microsoft Excel 2016

business-analytics-1

With new versions of Office tools, there are often new features. But which ones are really the tools to take note of so that you can increase efficiency? Here are a few new key features available in Microsoft Excel 2016.

1. New Charts

A major difference between Excel 2013 and Excel 2016 include six new charts, including the Pareto, Histogram, Treemap, Box & Whisper, Waterfall and Sunburst charts. These maps allow you to examine data in one view across different hierarchies and analyze statistics. For example, when you use the Treemap chart, you can analyze which product categories provided the highest revenue. The Box & Whisper chart allows you to gain insight on the range of data and to easily identify outliers, such as a product that may be underperforming.

2. New Templates

Get your tasks off the ground in an instant with the new templates in Excel 2016. You’ll find relevant templates to address business needs, such as the Stock Analysis template and My Cashflow template. These templates allow you to monitor how you spend your money and to quickly compare how well your stocks are performing in a given category. Additionally, you can take advantage of the dashboard feature to manage your calendar and manage your time more efficiently.

3. Touch-enabled Ink Equation Capabilities

Manually inputting math equations can become tedious and has been a standard way to get the results you want to solve a problem in previous versions of Excel. However, new features within Excel 2016 allow you to write complicated math equations by hand with a touch-enabled device thanks to the ink equation feature. Simply use your stylus or finger to write the equation while using the Microsoft Excel app on your device and watch as the app converts it into text. You can even use a mouse to get similar results.

When you’re using your laptop or desktop, you can easily access the feature by clicking on the Insert tab, selecting the Equation link, and choosing the option to Ink. This feature also makes it easy to correct errors by erasing mistakes.

4. Improved Database Features for Data Transformation

Add-on programs, such as Power Query and Power BI, simplify data conversion to enable you to quickly analyze information to solve questions you seek to answer. You can even forecast data with accuracy when you use the Forecast Sheet feature. You can also optimize your queries when using the Power Queries feature with the recent support for parameters. Just select the Home button and choose the Manage Preferences option to access the New Parameter selection.

5. Integrated 3D-Mapping Capabilities

If you wanted to make three-dimensional maps in previous versions of Excel, you needed to have downloaded the Power Maps add-on feature. However, 3D-mapping capabilities have been integrated and enhanced with Excel 2016 and renamed as 3D Maps. Additionally, you can compare and analyze different pieces of information, such as populations and building locations, with the 3D Maps feature. Furthermore, it’s easy to share your stories and video tours you’ve created to improve engagement among your target audience.

Final Thoughts

With all the new features available from Microsoft Excel 2016, it’s worth taking the time to learn about and practice using the ones that best fit your needs. By exploring these new features, you stand to increase your productivity for vital projects and tasks.  Access Hosting offers free trials of Office 2016 and Excel 2016 in our own private cloud.

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5 Drawbacks and Limitations of Microsoft Office 365 Hosting

Is your company on the fence about whether it’s time to switch to Office 365 hosting service? If so, you are not alone. Many businesses are mulling of the pros and cons of Office 365 to determine if making the switch is the right option for their specific business.

At first glance, the subscription-based platform Microsoft 365 certainly seems to have a lot to offer, such as continuous updates and low subscription fees. However, Office 365 is not without its drawbacks. Below is a look at the top five drawbacks of Microsoft 365 hosting that you should consider carefully before making your decision.

1. Data Privacy

One of the biggest drawbacks of Microsoft 365 is the lack of data privacy. Microsoft has certainly gone out of its way to create a very secure platform that provides a high level of data protection. It does, however, take the control of maintaining and monitoring data security out of your hands and into the hands of Microsoft. For many companies, this obstacle is too great to overcome and it even may go against company or governmental regulations, which makes Office 365 an unrealistic option.

2. Cost Efficiency

Office 365 offers some very low initial subscriptions plan rates. This may sound like a great deal, but there’s more to consider. First, this initial low-cost plan is very limited and likely will not provide all the services and capabilities your business requires, even if you operate a small business. In order to have the types of services your business needs, you can expect the rates to be much higher.  Even more troubling is the lack of support that Microsoft includes in their hosting packages.  You have to solve the problems yourself using their Office 365 community which is filled with both correct and wrong answers.  Microsoft almost expects you to hire or have a knowledgeable IT person in your company to manage the Office 365 service. In the end, you could end up spending a lot more with Office 365.

3. Less Flexibility

Since Office 365 is created for a wide range of customers, it does not offer the same level of flexibility. This lack of flexibility can make it more difficult, or even impossible, for your business to customize these services to meet the unique demands of your business. It is crucial that you take a close look at the various features that Office 365 offers to ensure that it offers everything you need to continue meeting the needs of your business’s day-to-day operations.

4. More Limitation

Another major drawback is the limitations that come with Office 365. Perhaps the most alarming limitation is that the platform limits the amount of emails you can send and receive on any given day. It also limits how long you can retain and archive older emails. This could be a major problem for companies that send or receive a large volume of emails on a daily basis, as well as companies that require email to be saved for a long period of time.

5. Loss of Control

Companies that are overburdened with maintaining Office data may find it refreshing to have Microsoft control management and security. However, this level of control does not come without drawbacks. You will find that Microsoft has set up a series of safety and management regulations. These restrictions could interfere with your company’s daily activities. For example, Microsoft does not allow the importation of XML files. If your company uses these types of files on any basis, it may be impossible to switch to Office 365.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before deciding if you should switch to Office 365 or not. Managed Microsoft hosting services may be the perfect alternative for your business. Hosting companies such as Access Hosting offer low-cost services that provide a greater level of flexibility and customization to ensure your platform meets the specific needs of your business.

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How to Connect Microsoft Access to QuickBooks

QuickBooks is an accounting application that many individuals and small business owners use to manage their finances. It allows you to maintain a variety of database files such as customer contact information, budgets and inventory records.

Microsoft Access, on the other hand, is a broader database application, which can store everything from mailing lists to financial data and everything in between. While many users enjoy the convenient financial tracking that QuickBooks provides, they also like the flexibility and advanced query options that Microsoft Access offers.

The good news is that you can merge these two different applications. This allows you to record your financial and business records efficiently, while still being able to create a variety of queries for analytical purposes.

In order to connect Microsoft Access to QuickBooks, you will need to use an ODBC driver like QODBC. While this driver does not import files from or into these applications, it does allow Microsoft Access users to view their QuickBook files externally.

You will still be able to be able to create all the tables, queries, reports, modules and macros using data stored in your QuickBook files, just as you would your files stored in Microsoft Access. Data within these files is updated instantly whether you are working in QuickBook or Microsoft Access.

The process for connecting Microsoft Access and QuickBooks is fairly easy and can be completed within just a few minutes. Below is a look at the seven steps you need to take to connect these two applications.

2016-09-20_9-14-19

  1. Start by opening up your Microsoft Access application. You can do this by clicking the Start button on your desktop, selecting Microsoft Office and choosing Microsoft Access. Select the Blank Access Database Click the OK button.
  2. A default name will appear in the File Name Feel free to edit the name of the file to better meet your specific needs. This name cannot match any other file name within your Microsoft Access database. When you are done, click the Create button.
  3. Click the New tab at the top of the box.
  4. The Microsoft Access database wizard box will appear. Select Link Table. Click the OK
  5. Locate the Files of Type box at the bottom of the screen. Use the drop down box to change the Files of Type from Microsoft Access to ODBC Databases.
  6. The Select Data Source box will appear. Select QuickBook Data or another DSN Data Source you set up with your QODBC driver. Click on the OK
  7. The Link Table will appear, which lists all the tables from QuickBook that you can now access with Microsoft Access. Select all the QuickBook tables you want to connect to Microsoft Office. Click the OK

You will now be able to view all your QuickBook tables in Microsoft Access. It is important to note that this process technically does not import your QuickBook files into Microsoft Access. Instead, Microsoft Access will open these external files through the QODBC driver.

This allows changes to be updated instantly whether you are working in QuickBooks or in Microsoft Access. This creates fewer errors and ensures your records stay up to date at all times.

If you create a table in QuickBooks, you will need to repeat steps one through seven to make sure these new files are connected to your Microsoft Access.

Posted in Access 2007, Access 2010, Access 2013, Access 2016, quickbooks hosting, Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Hosting | 1 Comment

What’s New in SharePoint 2016

applauncher

SharePoint has come a long way since its inception in 2001. Whether your business adopted SharePoint and the Office Suite from the beginning, or you are brand new to this collaboration tool, the changes in 2016 can help your business use resources to their fullest. See what’s new to increase your workforce mobility and your document management efficiency.

Hybrid Deployments

One often-difficult business decision is whether to use on-site and cloud deployments. The easy solution is a hybrid of the two, and SharePoint 2016 offers a hybrid model. Instead of only having access to on-site or cloud servers, several hybrid deployments allow you to access sites and documents regardless of where they are stored.

Hybrid Search

Hybrid Search is a new option that searches content across both on-site and online sources for a complete Office 365 experience. This replaces the necessity to be logged in to the source at the time it’s needed and opens up a more consolidated search.

OneDrive Redirection

OneDrive Redirection integrates a OneDrive button into the navigation bar. When it or the Sites button is selected, users are redirected to Office 365 seamlessly.

Hybrid Team Sites

Hybrid Team Sites allow you to follow in one place. In conjunction with OneDrive redirection, your team sites are accessible, and you can link to Exchange Online and Delve.

Apps and App Launcher

As business becomes even more mobile, the ability to access information on the go is a necessity. SharePoint 2016 not only has a new, user-friendly look, it also has corresponding apps for all your employees’ iOS, Android and Windows devices.

In addition to the SharePoint app itself, configuring hybrid team sites or hybrid OneDrive enables users to see their app tiles within SharePoint. The App Launcher then allows linking to the appropriate location, whether it’s on-site or online.

Touch-Friendly Interface

If your team carries tablets, you’ll appreciate the new responsive user interface. To provide a seamless experience, SharePoint 2016 has a fresh, clean look that adapts to screen size and optimizes for your devices. It also integrates Delve and Office Graph with activity streams, recommendations and top links for user convenience.

Other Improvements

Although the following features aren’t necessarily new, they are improvements on the existing features from 2013 and before. They work hand-in-hand with the new emphasis on speed, mobility and access to create a friendlier user experience.

Upload Larger Files

Previously, file size was limited to 2 GB, but now, file size is unlimited. However, you may experience timing out if the files are greater than 10 GB.

Sharing Improvements

The invitation mail has been improved with one-click approval or denial of requests. There is also increased visibility of who the file has been shared with and when it was viewed, and this 2016 version includes sharing hints and the ability to create and share folders.

Faster Site Creation Time

After configuring PowerShell, sites can be created in one second rather than the 40 seconds in SharePoint 2013.

Better Durable Links

If files are moved or renamed, durable links ensure that users can still access the files they need.

Creation and collaboration of documents and projects have never been easier or more in demand. With these improvements and new features, SharePoint 2016 can help your business reach the next level of success.

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5 Reasons Why Microsoft Access Schools Quickbooks

You have many choices for your business accounting needs, and Quickbooks frequently comes up in conversation. However, that doesn’t necessary make it perfect for your organization. Microsoft Access gives you a Quickbooks alternative with five compelling reasons to add it to your technology stack.

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1. Intuitive for Microsoft Office Users

How long do you want to wait for end users to get up to speed on new software? Every minute they spend in training takes away from the time they could devote to critical business tasks. Microsoft Access offers a familiar interface that helps cut down on the learning curve. Plus, you gain deep integration with the Microsoft Office software suite, so if you’re already using these applications extensively, Access makes the most sense. Excel users, in particular, get a lot out of pulling their spreadsheet data into an Access database.

2. Highly Customizable

Quickbooks is good at its primary function, but when your needs change and go outside of these parameters, you run into trouble. Microsoft Access offers a flexible database that adapts to your current business environment rather than making you build workflows held back by application limitations. Many companies want more agility to respond to new changes in their industry, especially in quickly changing sectors.

If you have to switch out to new solutions every time you go through a market disruption, you end up in a perpetual deployment cycle and the associated decrease in productivity. Access empowers your organization with tools that can address many possible scenarios, whether you predict them or not. Countless industries evolve overnight due to high-tech startups, so being on your toes and ready to shift with the tides is an essential part of doing business.

3. Strong Network

Microsoft Access is used by millions globally, which creates a robust ecosystem of consultants, developers and other professionals with significant experience working with this tool. You can find a specialist offering deep familiarity with Microsoft Access if you don’t already have the necessary expertise available in house. Deployment is a breeze when you have experienced help guiding you along your path. Online Deployment for Web Databases is even easier with Access Hosting’s plans. You also have extensive access to training materials, should you want to invest in skills development for your own staff.

4. Extensive Third-Party Integration

Modern business infrastructure calls for organization-wide integration. Both Quickbooks and Access offer this feature, but Access ends up with more options due to its broad applications. Most of Quickbooks’ integrations revolve around accounting tie-ins, while Access finds its way into many software categories and business sectors.

5. Macro Creation

You don’t want to waste man hours on repetitive tasks. Access opens up macros for your end users, which can drastically increase overall productivity. Your staff gets to focus on high-value tasks that require their knowledge and skills, rather than going through a painful manual process. The macros you create are highly customized to your company’s workflow, rather than following a pre-set function that uses its own task list.

Ultimately, you have to choose the system that makes the most sense for your company. If you only foresee yourself having basic accounting needs, Quickbooks is a fine option. However, should you develop more complex requirements or a desire to branch out into a fully customized system for your organization, Microsoft Access delivers a flexible and powerful tool to create this foundation.

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Access has been added to the Office 365 roadmap

I was happy to discover that Microsoft has added Access to the Office 365 Roadmap.  That means they are actually working on new features for the Office 365 program that often feels forgotten.

 

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Access Developers and users have two new features to look forward to:

dBase File support

DBF files were originally used in dBase II and continued through to dBase Version IV. The DBF file format originated by Ashton-Tate, but is understood by Act!, Clipper,FoxPro, Arago, Wordtech, xBase, and similar database ordatabase-related products.

dBase has evolved into a modern object oriented language that runs on 32 bit Windows. It can be used to build a wide variety of applications including web apps hosted on a Windows server, Windows rich client applications, and middleware applications. dBase can access most modern database engines via ODBC drivers. DOS versions can still run on the latest Windows/Linux machines using the Virtual Machine (VM)DOSbox, or the later variant dbDOS. In 2015, dBase, LLC. introduced a set of new utilities called dbfUtils. The utilities include: dbfExport(TM) to export data from .dbf files to CSV, Microsoft(R) Excel, and XML, dbfImport(TM) allows users to import CSV, Microsoft(R) Excel, and XML files into a .dbf. dbfCompare(TM) allows 2 .dbf tables to compare differences and gives an easy way to synchronize tables. Finally the new dbfInspect(TM) allows users to deep-dive into the .dbf files and their contents.

dBase features an IDE with a Command Window and Navigator, a just-in-time compiler, a preprocessor, a virtual-machine interpreter, a linker for creating dBase application .EXEs, a freely available runtime engine, and numerous two-way GUI design tools including a Form Designer, Report Designer, Menu Designer, Label Designer, Datamodule Designer, SQL Query Designer, and Table Designer. Two-way Tools refers to the ability to switch back and forth between using a GUI design tool and the source code editor. Other tools include a Source Code Editor, a Project Manager that simplifies building and deploying a dBase application, and an integrated Debugger. dBase features structured exception handling and has many built-in classes that can be subclassed via single inheritance. There are visual classes, data classes, and many other supporting classes. Visual classes include Form, SubForm, Notebook, Container, Entryfield, RadioButton, SpinBox, ComboBox, ListBox, PushButton, Image, Grid, ScrollBar, ActiveX, Report, ReportViewer, Text, TextLabel and many others. Database classes include Session, Database, Query, Rowset, Field, StoredProc and Datamodule classes. Other classes include File, String, Math, Array, Date, Exception, Object and others. dBase objects can be dynamically subclassed by adding new properties to them at runtime.

BigInt datatype Support

As SQL server has evolved to support 64Bit architecture, it has also become increasingly common to run into BigInt as a primary key. The problem was that if you connected to such a SQL database in MS Access 2016, that large number was displayed as a text string instead of a number.  Native support removes the need to use clumsy workarounds and relieves a huge pain point for Access developers.

It’s nice to see Access evolve and be able to more easily connect with a external databases.

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Top 10 Reasons to Move Your Access Database to the Cloud

The cloud is a fast, convenient technology suitable for modern businesses and consumers. You simply get faster time to market. It’s not a surprise 90 percent of businesses already utilizing the cloud in some way.

If you haven’t already, consider moving your access database to the cloud. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should.  Remember that Access Hosting offers great web database hosting solutions for small businesses.

1. Unmatched Storage Flexibility

Most businesses have growing or changing needs, and they need data services with flexibility. Access Hosting’s Cloud capacity can easily be scaled up by drawing on other servers (or scaled down). With such capabilities, cloud computing has a distinct advantage. Perhaps that’s why IT experts rank “operational agility” as a top reason for increased cloud adoption.

2. Collaboration Capabilities

As companies move increasingly online, it’s vital for employees to still be able to collaborate on projects. Access Hosting’s private cloud provides users the ability to access, edit and share files from virtually anywhere — which helps increase productivity. For instance, if you choose to build an MS Access Web Database that integrates with Excel, you can secure and manage access to data, and choose what to share within the organization with our Windows Terminal Servers.

3. Lower Costs

Cloud computing takes out the cost of hardware, and most employ a pay-as-you-go or subscription-based model. While spending on cloud services is projected to reach $240 billion in 2017, services are getting cheaper and more efficient. That’s why large-scale adoption is taking place. Access Hosting has plans starting at only $19/month to get your database in the cloud.

4. Constant Worldwide Access

Think about this: Lost laptops cost companies tons of money, with estimates in the billions of dollars. If an employee is storing work just on his computer, that work is lost if something happens to the computer. If the work had been stored in the cloud, it would still  be accessible from another device – our RDP hosting plans even let you access and run your MS Access Database from iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

5. Competitiveness

Moving your database to the cloud does many things to make you more competitive, from increasing team communication and productivity to reducing expenses. Furthermore, having all that data in one place gives decision-makers a comprehensive view of what’s happening, making it easier to dig through and choose directions that will benefit the business.

6. Strong Security

The cloud helps prepare businesses for disaster, as it is a timely data backup built to consistently ward off the latest cyber-security threats. If something like a server crash happens with your MS Access database, a dedicated IT team from your hosting service is already there to deal with the issue, and you’ll be running your business again in no time.

7. Instant Publication

The cloud is popular because of its ability to show changes and updates instantaneously. For example, if you are using MS Access and have chosen an efficient MS Access hosting service, you can publish data to SharePoint within minutes. This boosts team productivity and makes it easier to get new products and updates to your customers.

8. Automatic Updates

There are two main advantages to automatic updates from cloud computing providers: One, you save time, which saves your company money; and two, you don’t need to bring in an IT expert to install the update, which again saves you time and money. With most services, installing updates is very straightforward. If you use Quickbooks to handle accounting, for instance, updating is just a support ticket away.

9. Environmentally Friendly

Companies have a responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint. Cloud computing does use its fair share of energy, but it leaves less waste. According to a Scientific American report, consolidating documents on remote servers is more energy efficient than saving them on personal computers.

10. Easy Integration

Many employees may have trouble understanding the cloud, but most reliable providers do one thing well: They make it very user-friendly. Hence, moving your database to the cloud is usually a seamless process that doesn’t waste resources.

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Download the Access 2016 Runtime

The Microsoft Access 2016 runtime has been released.

The wait is over for Access 2016 Runtime. Here are the download links for the last 4 versions of the MS Access Runtime environment. Remember that you can use these runtime packages to deploy Access Applications free of charge. They make a great low cost solution for putting legacy Access applications on the internet, the iPad, and most Android devices WITHOUT the hassle and expense of conversion using our Remote Desktop Hosting and SQL 2012 Hosting Plans.

Access 2016 Runtime Download

Access 2013 Runtime Download

Access 2010 Runtime Download

Access 2007 Runtime Download

Remote Desktop Hosting Plan Free Trial

SQL 2012 Hosting Plan Free Trial

 

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Learn about the Differences Between MS Access and QuickBooks

When your business is growing, you need to keep regular track of your finances. Microsoft Access and QuickBooks are two programs that can help you achieve this, but which system will work best for you? You want to make the right choice to fulfill your business needs while saving time. Discover the key differences between these two data management programs to help you choose.

Customization Capabilities

Both Microsoft Access and QuickBooks are useful for collecting and managing data, especially for accounting. Both programs are also available in different formats to accommodate business size, but they differ in customization capabilities.

Small businesses often find QuickBooks to be a simple tool to manage their financial transactions. Alternatively, Microsoft Access is a more robust database management system that allows its users to build and develop applications unique to their business needs. It allows users to customize databases and templates and automate apps without the need of a developer.

There are even times when a MS Access database solution needs to integrate with Quickbooks and pull in financial data.

Ramp-Up Time

The time it takes to learn a system can affect a company’s productivity. If your business is implementing tools that require extensive research to use, then you have to assess whether it’s worth using that tool. QuickBooks is a popular accounting tool many small businesses use because it’s a simple accounting software tool to get started with when you have only a few business transactions to track.

On the other hand, Microsoft Access can be complex for some businesses starting out because of the knowledge required to use some of the functions and the time it takes to acquire this knowledge. For example, if a user wants to automatically sync his apps to the cloud, he must understand SQL compatibility formats. If he doesn’t understand how to convert his applications to a format that is compatible with SQL, then he’ll need to learn SQL or outsource the job. Luckily for you, Access Hosting has this expertise and can make this process easy for you.

Limitations on Users

Both Microsoft Access and QuickBooks have a multi-user support team, but the programs differ in how many people can use the system concurrently. For example, QuickBooks is limited to 30 users, as of 2016, while Microsoft Access can handle more than 200 users at a time on an enterprise level or with an Access Hosting dedicated machine.

Cloud Capabilities

Both Microsoft Access and QuickBooks offer cloud-based versions of their software programs, but these cloud capabilities are limited to the size of the business. For example, QuickBooks does not offer cloud-supported software for its enterprise level edition.  Access Hosting is here to help you every step of the way as you move your data into the cloud and has a variety of solutions built around MS Access and Quickbooks. Private Cloud  hosting is becoming a necessity for many businesses as the need to store data online keeps growing.

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Consider These 5 Key Factors Before Your Next SaaS Product Purchase

Investing in Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, products can help grow your business through efficiency. However, you may want to consider several factors before making a commitment. Learn five key factors to consider before buying SaaS products, including business needs, cost, service terms, the ability to negotiate and security.

Business Needs

One of the first factors to think of when buying SaaS products is whether the item fits the needs of your business. You can achieve this by making sure your IT strategy and the goals for your enterprise are aligned. Defining your business needs will serve as a guide to determining what features and functionalities you need. This can be a dashboard that shows reports clearly at the top of your web browser or features, such as templates and notifications, that automate to improve enterprise operations. The features you ultimately choose should simplify work rather than make it complicated.

Cost

Cost is a pain point for small businesses. SaaS products offer a lower-cost option that on-premise data centers. Using Access Hosting to host your Windows Server, Web Database Application, or Collaborate using Microsoft Office 365 is way more affordable than purchasing your own hardware. However, you don’t want to be blinded by price baits only to be faced with any surprise expenses, such as rising monthly subscription fees – that is why Access Hosting plans are month to month and let you cancel at any time. Get a clear picture of what to expect when it comes to the price of the SaaS product you are considering. If you are offered a trial subscription, find out when it ends and the set roll-to price. Inquire about add-on fees and pricing structure, such as per-user fees, license fees and subscription fees.

Service Terms

When you are considering your next SaaS purchase, you want to make sure that the service terms are agreeable. You also want to ensure the product will be available when you need it the most. The service terms can discuss service level agreement to determine availability as well. Make sure the terms of service, including the vendor’s security policy, are also well-documented.

Flexibility in Negotiation

If you like the support a SaaS vendor brings but can’t seem to find the product that’s right for you, then you may want to consider if terms or the actual product is negotiable. Discuss customization options with a sales representative to see if there is a package or service they can offer you that aligns with your business needs. You also want to make sure your vendor has flexibility with negotiating terms regarding service level so that you can get reliable service that takes hours rather than days to fix should a problem arise.

Security

Any information that is personally identifiable can be at risk if a data breach occurs. Hackers can use their social engineering and doxing skills to find pertinent information, such as phone numbers and emails, and pose as an employee. That is why you want to consider a SaaS product’s security. Take care to assess the safety of your data with any SaaS vendor you are considering before purchasing its products.

Have a checklist of questions prepared to make sure you’re asking the right questions. You can even create a ranking system by using a standardized information-gathering or SIG questionnaire to determine if one security feature is more important than another. Consider SaaS products that routinely back up data and have encryption options available. Get to know the procedure for disaster recovery and information security control coverage.

Final Thoughts

Investing your company’s hard-earned profits in SaaS products should not be taken lightly. By considering the needs of the business, the price of the product, its service terms, security and whether you can negotiate any of these factors, you can buy the right SaaS for your business with confidence. Access Hosting is confident that we can build a cloud solution perfect for your business and database application.

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8 Benefits of Using Collaborative Software in the Cloud

Cloud technology was a global phenomenon just a few years ago, but it is now integral part of business operations. The cloud has been particularly helpful to companies that use collaborative software like Microsoft Office, specifically Excel and Access, as it allows for safe, quick and encrypted access to potentially sensitive data — from anywhere in the world.

If you are contemplating moving your collaborative software to the cloud, there are eight very clear benefits of doing so.

1. Reduced Hardware Costs

The cost of purchasing and installing sophisticated IT systems can be considerable, particularly for startups and small businesses. But using the remote servers of a cloud provider like Access Hosting means companies and relatively small organizations can bypass these costs and save money. There is no systems maintenance or management cost, but just a fixed monthly subscription that makes financial planning simple.

2. Reliable Security Features

The use of collaborative software can pose significant security problems. Several users all accessing and sharing the same data via different devices is a situation with inherent risk. But cloud storage providers offer protection from all the latest viruses and malware. And depending on the provider, there may be the option of two-factor authentication at login. Most cloud providers offer automatic updates, which means businesses don’t need to pay IT specialists to update several physical servers and devices with the latest protection.

3. Remote Working

This brave new world of cloud computing is making the traditional office environment increasingly obsolete. Users with access to collaborative software in the cloud can view, share and update files from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. That means you can collaborate in MS Access, Excel or even Quickbooks without having to physically be in the office. This can reduce costs, improve staff morale and boost productivity levels.

4. Reduced Operational Costs

Most businesses have fluctuating bandwidth costs, so there’s often a need to scale up and scale down capacity at short notice. Cloud storage allows businesses to pay for only the capacity they need, rather than wasting cash on excess storage and bandwidth.

5. Seamless Collaboration

The success of collaborative software — such as the many packages developed by Microsoft Office 365- relies on the ability to share, view and edit files in real time. Any updates made to files in cloud storage are immediately available to all users, so they’re able to make their own contributions in the knowledge that they have the latest information at hand. Best of all, our terminal services collaboration plans allow for developers to leave their MS Access Database as-is and move it into the cloud seamlessly.

6. Cost-Effective Disaster Recovery

Every business needs to prepare for the worst when it comes to data storage. A man-made or natural disaster has the potential to wipe out a business’s data in seconds, so having a plan to continually back up data — and restore lost data — is essential. However, this can be a complex and costly process, and it can put a huge financial and administrative strain on small organizations. Collaborative software in the cloud usually includes disaster recovery measures, saving businesses time and money.  Access Hosting takes daily backups of our architecture and you can add individual file backups for as little as $20/month.

7. Improved Competitiveness

Small businesses often struggle to compete financially with their larger competitors. Collaborative software in the cloud can level the playing field in this respect. Cloud computing is cheaper than installing and maintaining physical IT infrastructure, which makes it possible for smaller organizations to be competitive within their industries.

8. Restricted Access Based on Security Clearance

In an organization with hundreds of employees, it is inevitable that certain people will need to access sensitive files that aren’t for general consumption. Providers of cloud-based collaborative software offer varying levels of user access, so sensitive data remains private.

Cloud technology gives businesses flexibility, reliability and simplicity — and cuts the cost of doing business. This is why more and more organizations are transferring their collaborative software to the cloud.

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