Creating Business Solutions with Access ServicesRAYMOND MITCHELL & WES PRESTON

Abstract In this session we’ll look at where Access sits in the solution landscape, how to get started, and then walk through demos of creating and publishing a custom web app without writing code. We’ll also look at what it means to configure Access Services in your environment and show examples of integration opportunities. Bring lots of questions and an open mind – you’ve never seen Access like this!

@iwkid

linkedin.com/in/iwkid

Raymond Mitchell Independent ConsultantOwner of IWSPACE, LLC

Specialize in SharePoint & Information Worker Technologies

SharePointing since 2001

www.iwkid.com

www.iwspace.com

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@idubbs

linkedin.com/in/wpreston

Wes Preston Independent ConsultantOwner of TrecStone

Information Worker, No-code/low-code solutions for business.

SharePointing since 2003

www.idubbs.com/blog

www.trecstone.com

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Agenda• Overview

• Getting Started

• Creating Access Web Apps

• Access Functionality

• Reporting & External Connections

• Publishing & Upgrading

• Resources & Questions

OverviewACCESS SERVICES - 2013

Access 2013• Still clinging to life..

• Start from a blank Database or from one of many templates

Access Services 2010

Quick survey – who here used Access Services 2010?

Access Services 2010• “Web Databases”

• Data was stored in Lists

• Publish your existing databases

• Lots of limitations:• Not all form control events are supported in Web databases

• Not all column data types are compatible with Web lookups

• Not all field data types are compatible with the Web

• At the end of the day – not so great

• Possible reason to miss them? On-prem configuration was much easier

Access Services 2013• Still requires a Service Application on-prem

• Introducing Access Web Apps

• Data is stored in SQL Server• Every Access Web App is a database in SQL

Access Web Apps• They’re real SharePoint Apps!

• Uses “familiar” installation process

• Can be distributed just like other apps• Corporate Catalog• Deployed to the SharePoint Store

Where does Access Fit?• Fills *some* of the gaps left by SharePoint Designer and InfoPath changes

• No-Code solutions (advanced capabilities for power users – queries, integration, macros)

• Arguably better than SharePoint at transactions / relational data

• Reporting is definitely better – data is in SQL

• Definitely part of Microsoft’s “to the cloud” vision• Easiest on Office 365• Leverages SQL Azure

Limitations• Form and page layout is closed – development is limited to Apps for Office extensions

• No SharePoint-style Alerts

• No Workflow

• No true granular security within the app

Getting StartedWHAT’S NEEDED

What’s needed• SharePoint 2013

• SQL Server 2012 or SQL Azure (depending on deployment platform)

• Access 2013 client for design work

Office 365• Almost ZERO configuration – it just works

• May have to activate the Access App Site Feature

• Available on ALL levels (not just Enterprise)

• Gets the latest and greatest improvements (Cascading dropdowns!!!)

• May have some data/capacity limitations with SQL Azure

SharePoint 2013 On-Prem• Only available with Enterprise license

• SharePoint 2013 March Update (15.0.4481.1005)• may as well go to SP1 (15.0.4569.1000) now that it is stable

• SQL 2012 configured for mixed-mode authentication

• It’s difficult to configure

• Going to be another example of the push to the Cloud…

Platform DifferencesOffice 365

• SQL Azure

• Latest features first

• Setup:

On-Prem

• Local SQL Server 2012

• Latest features on 2-3 year release cycle

• Setup:

Quick thoughts Configuring On-Prem• Configure Apps first – that’s enough fun for one day

• Use the official white paper AND Kirk Evans’s blog post for reference• Insane permissions issues not addressed in the white paper

• Really should have a separate SQL Server or at least Instance

• Can’t use SQL Aliases

• Be prepared for firewall rules and such

• Be prepared – all you get are GUIDs

• When you’re stuck, reboot

Create Access Web AppsSTART FROM SCRATCH

Creating Access Web Apps• When creating from scratch, two starting points:• Access• SharePoint

DEMO• Create an Access Web App from SharePoint

• Show how to create from Access

• Show Table Templates• Show Navigation• Tables, Default views

• Launch the App

Create Access Web AppsSTART FROM A PUBLISHED APP

Installing Access Apps from the Store• Existing Microsoft-created Access Web Apps• Salon Management• Asset Management System• Meal Delivery• Recruiting Helper• Tool Tracker• Student Drop in Management• Training Management• More!

• Only recently added the ability to publish Access Apps to the Store – more will be coming

• Install process is like other Apps – except that Access Services must be configured first

DEMO• Add an Access App from the SharePoint Store

• Show how to customize an Access App from the store

Access FunctionalityBUILDING BLOCKS FOR ACCESS WEB APPS

Tables• Data is stored in ‘Tables’ (as opposed to Lists)

• Table Templates are available to get started • There are a LOT of samples available with one or more tables and associated views• Search for ‘all’ to see the full list

• Add a new blank table – to start from scratch

• Existing data sources

Tables - Data Types• Shift from SharePoint thinking… • In Access, data type is separate from data display

Views / Forms• A little terminology overlap from SharePoint

Macros•Types of Macros• Event• Data• OnStart• On Deploy Data Macro (ODDM)

Macros•Types of Macros• Event• Data• OnStart• On Deploy Data Macro (ODDM)

Respond to clicks on a view

Macros•Types of Macros• Event• Data• OnStart• On Deploy Data Macro (ODDM)

Respond to data events

Macros•Types of Macros• Event• Data• OnStart• On Deploy Data Macro (ODDM)

Execute when the app opens

Macros•Types of Macros• Event• Data• OnStart• On Deploy Data Macro (ODDM)

Execute during install / upgrade scenarios

SharePoint Integration• List Lookups

• Site permissions

• Site branding

•App-style Navigation (back to site link)

DEMO• Walkthrough of the building blocks

Reporting & External ConnectionsUSE THAT SQL SERVER

Reporting Instance• Create a client-only database that links to your SQL database

• Separates reporting from application maintenance

Enabling Connections• Where’s my data?• Database named with GUIDs• In Azure *somewhere*

• What’s my username?

• What’s my password?

External Connections• Excel

• Visio

• Power View

• Crystal Reports

• Custom Code

• External services that can connect to SQL Azure (like www.Zapier.com)

DEMO• Configuring External Connections

• Connecting with Excel

Publishing & UpgradingLIFECYCLE OF AN ACCESS WEB APP

Application Package• Create an .app Package

• Four deployment options:• Create an Access App by uploading the .app• Upload to Development Site• Deploy to your Corporate Catalog• Submit to the SharePoint Store

• Pay close attention to the “Include Data in Package” option

Application Package• Access Client SP1 Save As Options

• Includes better support for upgrade scenarios

• All Upgrade functionality is new (was releasing around SPC14 timeframe)

Upgrading• Table Locking

• On Deploy Data Macro• Runs when the app is installed or upgraded• Migrates data or loads sample data• Access Solution Developer owns the logic (Great Power + Great Responsibility)

• App Locking• Removes the “Customize in Access”• If modified, cannot be upgraded

DEMO• Package and Deploy an Access Web App

ResourcesAND STUFF

Resources Kirk Evans post – deploy Access on Premhttp://blogs.msdn.com/b/kaevans/archive/2013/07/14/access-services-2013-setup-for-an-on-premises-installation.aspx

SPC14 Sessions on Channel9http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/SharePoint-Conference/2014?sort=sequential&direction=desc&term=&tag=access&tag=access-services#theSessions

(SPC204) Anyone can build a SharePoint App with Microsoft Accesshttp://channel9.msdn.com/Events/SharePoint-Conference/2014/SPC204

Book: Microsoft Access 2013 Inside Out – Jeff Conradhttp://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Access-2013-Inside-Out-ebook/dp/B00JDMPLLO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1399951293

Resources Add notifications to your Access 2013 web apps using Zapierhttp://blogs.office.com/2013/02/18/streamline-collaboration-across-teams-add-notifications-to-your-access-2013-web-apps/

Visualize your Access 2013 web app data in Excel

http://blogs.office.com/2013/01/22/visualize-your-access-2013-web-app-data-in-excel/

Resources SPC

◦ SPC204 – Anyone can build a SharePoint App with Microsoft Access◦ SPC285 – No-code SharePoint 2013 Solutions for power users◦ SPC301 – Access is back! High-value, ‘no code’, functional & flexible business apps with the new Access◦ SPC335 – Rich extensions to SharePoint Apps using Microsoft Access◦ SPC338 – The ‘how to’ guide for selling and managing SharePoint Apps build using Access◦ SPC348 – Update on InfoPath and SharePoint Forms

Questions?