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Practical advice for escaping Microsoft Access

Why Your Access Application Breaks When Someone Works From Home

Access databases over VPN are slow, unreliable, and prone to corruption. Here is why remote work and Access do not mix, and what to do about it.

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Access Database Size: How Big Is Too Big?

The 2GB limit is well known, but Access databases start struggling long before that. Here is when size becomes a real problem and what to do about it.

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What Are Pass-Through Queries and When Should You Use Them?

Pass-through queries let your Access front-end send raw SQL directly to the server. Here is when they help, when they hurt, and how to use them.

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Multi-User Access: File Server vs. Terminal Server vs. Migration

The three approaches to running Access with multiple users, why the first two are band-aids, and when migration is the real answer.

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How to Back Up an Access Database the Right Way

Most Access users back up their database wrong. Here is how to do it properly, especially with split databases and multiple users.

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Boolean Fields in Access vs. Every Other Database

Why Access handles True/False values differently from SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL, and how to avoid bugs during migration.

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Why Your Access Queries Run Slower After Migration

The counterintuitive reasons some queries get slower after migrating from Access to a server database, and how to fix each one.

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Open Source Databases for Small Business: A Practical Guide

A no-nonsense guide to MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL for small businesses looking to replace Microsoft Access without Microsoft licensing costs.

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Access vs. SQL Server: An Honest Comparison for Small Business

A straightforward comparison of Microsoft Access and SQL Server for small business database needs, covering features, cost, complexity, and when to switch.

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5 Signs Your Access Database Has Outgrown Your Business

How to tell when your Access database has reached its limits and it is time to migrate to a real database server.

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Cloud Databases for Access Replacement: Your Options in 2026

A practical overview of cloud-hosted database options for replacing Microsoft Access, with costs, trade-offs, and recommendations.

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Date and Time Fields: The #1 Migration Gotcha

Why date and time fields cause more problems than any other data type during Access migration and how to handle them.

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Connection Strings for Access Developers: A Plain-English Guide

A practical guide to ODBC connection strings for Access developers connecting to SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL.

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Choosing a Database When You Have No DBA on Staff

How to pick the right database for your Access replacement when nobody on your team is a database administrator.

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The Hidden Cost of Staying on Access

The costs you are already paying by staying on Access that do not show up as line items in your budget.

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Why Access Crashes When Multiple Users Edit the Same Record

The technical explanation behind Access write conflicts, locking errors, and crashes during concurrent editing, and how to reduce them.

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Access Database Security: Why There Basically Isn't Any

The security limitations of Microsoft Access databases and why they matter for organizations with sensitive data.

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Why Your Access Reports Look Wrong After Moving to SQL Server

Common reasons Access reports produce different results after migrating to SQL Server and how to fix each one.

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What Is Upsizing and Should You Use the Built-In Wizard?

What the Access upsizing process involves, whether the built-in wizard works, and when to use alternatives like SSMA.

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MariaDB vs. MySQL: What's the Difference and Does It Matter?

A practical comparison of MariaDB and MySQL for organizations considering either as an Access database replacement.

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What Happens to Your VBA Code When You Leave Access

How your VBA code is affected by each type of Access migration and what you need to change, keep, or replace.

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The 2GB Access Database Limit: What Happens When You Hit It

What actually happens when your Access database approaches or hits the 2GB file size limit, and what to do about it.

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What Your IT Consultant Won't Tell You About Access Migration

The uncomfortable truths about migrating from Access that consultants downplay, skip over, or learn the hard way on your dime.

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Fixing 'ODBC Call Failed' Errors After Migration

A systematic guide to diagnosing and fixing the most common ODBC errors that appear after migrating an Access database to a server database.

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Access Data Types That Don't Convert Cleanly to SQL Server

The Access data types that cause problems during migration to SQL Server and how to handle each one.

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SQL Server Express: Is the Free Version Enough?

What SQL Server Express can and cannot do, its limitations, and whether it is sufficient for replacing your Access database.

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Should You Migrate Your Access Database or Rebuild From Scratch?

How to decide between migrating your existing Access application to a new database versus rebuilding the entire application from the ground up.

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Access Database Too Slow? Here's What's Actually Happening

The real technical reasons your Access database is slow and which ones you can fix without migrating.

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Is Microsoft Access Still Supported? What Microsoft Actually Says

What Microsoft's official support policy means for Access, what is actually changing, and what you should plan for.

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7 Things That Break Immediately After Migrating from Access

The most common problems that appear right after migrating an Access database to SQL Server, MySQL, or PostgreSQL, and how to fix each one.

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How ODBC Linked Tables Work (And Why They Break)

A practical guide to how Access connects to external databases through ODBC linked tables, common problems, and how to fix them.

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MySQL vs. PostgreSQL for Access Replacement: Which One?

A practical comparison of MySQL and PostgreSQL as replacements for Microsoft Access, covering cost, complexity, features, and compatibility.

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Access Front-End with SQL Server Back-End: How It Works

How to keep your Access forms and reports while moving your data to SQL Server. The practical mechanics of a split architecture.

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Why Access Databases Corrupt and How to Prevent It

Understanding why Access database corruption happens, what causes .mdb and .accdb file damage, and practical steps to reduce the risk.

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Why Your Access Database Breaks Down at 15 Users

The technical reasons Microsoft Access fails under concurrent use and what to do about it.

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