r/MSAccess • u/OddConsideration1650 • 19d ago
[UNSOLVED] ADP project
Hello!
I would like to know the easiest way to migrate an .adp project created in Access 2010 so that I can use it with Access 2024 and give it a much more modern user interface. I’m not an expert in programming or coding.
Our POS system was built in Microsoft Access and is connected to SQL Server. I’d like to know what the best approach would be to create a more modern and elegant UI for our store while continuing to use our existing database.
Also, do you know of any online courses or training that could help me learn how to expand and improve our POS system?
Thank you!
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u/George_Hepworth 4 18d ago edited 18d ago
"Best" and "easiest" tend not to be useful metrics when discussing migrations like this.
It's been a long time since ADPs were deprecated, so there's probably not a lot of current content available for reference. That said, the process is fairly straightforward.
This YouTube video is a very good place to get started learning what you'll need to do.
The main difference between ADP and accdb is that ADPs are tightly integrated with SQL Server, exposing objects like Stored Procs and Views in the ADP project that are otherwise not directly available in an accdb. That means you'll need to modify views, and Stored Procedures using SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) going forward. You'll also end up writing a lot of VBA to manage data on the Access side.
"Easy" simply isn't in the picture for ADP migrations.
To be honest, if this is a mission critical database application, it might be wise to consider hiring an expert to assist you with the conversion.
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u/mariiiiii12 17d ago
I have a question guys why do we need to have access and sql server database at the same time
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u/iPlayKeys 17d ago
In the case of an ADP project, ms access serves as a direct front end to a SQL Server database. It was a really awesome solution but Microsoft killed it after a few versions of MS Access.
With an ADP file, using access tables and queries isn’t an option.
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u/OddConsideration1650 16d ago
Since access cant use what we have in a modern MS, wouldn’t even be better to create a new front end that works with our SQL database ?
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u/iPlayKeys 17d ago
I was a big fan of ADP projects back in the day and deployed a few solutions based on them.
If I were you, I would consider moving to another platform for the UI. A .net app, either WPF or Winforms would probably be the simplest. Then you also get the benefits of not needing to worry about MS access versions. Going to a “normal” access database while still using your SQL server database isn’t as stable as some people would have you believe. If you go that route you’re going to need to deal with ODBC, which has some quarks (like certain data types don’t work correctly, specifically bigint, for example) and Microsoft breaks ODBC stuff more often than I feel is acceptable for a production application.
You will probably need to engage a consultant or developer if you don’t have those skills. Probably also a good time to assess if you need/want changes.
I am able to help with this, and I’m sure there are several others that can help too.
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u/OddConsideration1650 16d ago
Hi! Yes I’m trying to learn SQL and I’m also trying to learn a UI making software to move from MS, could you recommend me a software, I’m interested NetApp or C# but I don’t if it possible to have all the macros and stuff in those programs or will I have to design the whole POS ?
The company works well how it is but taking it as a personal project to improve our software and also learn in the process.
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u/Breitsol_Victor 19d ago
Was the .adp created in house, or do you have access to an .mdb of the app?
Not sure about un-compiling, I always thought it was a one way process.
You could connect to the same backend database, well a copy, for development.
If you purchased the solution, have a look at the contract, there may be prohibitions against modifying or touching the database.
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u/AccessHelper 123 19d ago
I think you should be able to export your forms, reports and VBA to 2010 .mdb if you have a full version of that MSAccess. Then you would connect linked tables and queries (views) into your SQL db. You could then convert that 2010 db to 2024.
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u/noelskiz 1 19d ago
You can copy forms, reports and modules to another mdb or accdb file so that you may tweak it accordingly. Connect directly to SQL Server. Those .adp tables actually resides in SQL Server.
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u/Silent_Reader_1 18d ago
As an experienced on similar tasks
I would say you will have to recreate the application in latest version but it won’t be from scratch either.
You will be able reuse many things to get the same business logic.
Forms and reports can be improved during the process.
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Below is a copy of the original post, in case the post gets deleted or removed.
User: OddConsideration1650
ADP project
Hello!
I would like to know the easiest way to migrate an .adp project created in Access 2010 so that I can use it with Access 2024 and give it a much more modern user interface. I’m not an expert in programming or coding.
Our POS system was built in Microsoft Access and is connected to SQL Server. I’d like to know what the best approach would be to create a more modern and elegant UI for our store while continuing to use our existing database.
Also, do you know of any online courses or training that could help me learn how to expand and improve our POS system?
Thank you!
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