how to access back-end of finished SQL app

Hi,

I'm a MS Access developer who needs to help someone migrate/convert from a 'finished' SQL application to Access. How do I gain access to the SQL back-end so I can examine/export the raw data? For example, in Access, I would hold down the Shift key while opening the program and it would give me editing rights to the database.

Please be very specific because I have zero experience with SQL.

Thanks,
David

I assume you are wanting to use Enterprise Manager to view the database?
If so you will need to install the MS SQL client tools, then register the server you want to connect to.

I have no idea what I am "wanting to do" here.

The client has a SQL Server-based application from which we need to extract data. I need to see how the tables & data are structured and be able to export them to Access. I imagine that this is somewhat backwards compared to most migrations, but it is correct. We are building a small, seperate application in Access that requires historical data from the SQL app.

Besides not being familiar with SQL Server in general, my main problem is that I am dealing with a finished application, and don't know how to gain entry to the back-end (or "guts") of the program.

Thanks in advance,
David

Set up a DSN connection to the SQL Server, and link tables from within Access maybe (get external data). You can set up local access tables and for the most part drag & drop data between the sql server linked tables and the local Access tables.

Another approach would be to create an Access project (.adp), connect to the sql server, and export data to text files on your access computer.

Or, as Memnoch said, install the SQL Server client tools which includes Data Transformation Services (DTS) which is a powerful data import-export program.