How to access a Microsoft Access database via Confluence?

[David A]

We have created some databases within our Confluence 3.5 instance for internal project management. I am not sure how they work but they make extensive use of plugins and macros.  Upgrading these pages to Confluence 5 is quite a headache.

The ability to create databases within Confluence seems powerful but I am wondering whether it would be better for us to use a tool designed explicitly for the purpose, such as Microsoft Access.  However, to publish Access databases on our intranet requires SharePoint, which is expensive and seemingly inappropriate since we use Confluence for collaboration.

Is it possible for Confluence to publish a Microsoft Access database?  (i.e. to mimic SharePoint's Access services?)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Adrien Ragot 2]

Hi David,

I think Access databases can be accessed via JDBC (SQL). You can use any SQL client for Confluence but they will be read-only: Bob Swift's SQL macro (paid), PocketQuery (free). I'm excluding the last SQL client, Play SQL Base, because it specifically targets Postgres and not Access.

I am also the author of Play SQL Spreadsheets, which can read and write in a database. It intends to offer the same service as Access in Confluence: People can create tables and forms to manage their data, and they're backed by a real database. It requires PostgreSQL, though.

Best regards,

Adrien Ragot

[David A]

Hi Adrien

Thanks for your answer. I'm struggling to express what I want to do. I think that your answer provides solutions for accessing an external database from Confluence, but where the user interface is provided by Confluence pages.

My thought process is that I would like the user interface to be provided by Access so that we can utilise the RAD functionality of Access to quickly design forms etc.  In Microsoft land it seems necessary to use SharePoint's 'Access Services' to publish an Access database to an intranet.  My question is whether those services can be provided in some way by Confluence?

Best regards

David

[Adrien Ragot 2]

Hi David, Sorry, when I suggested my tool which I'm aware only covers a part of your needs, I implicitly meant that I wasn't aware of solutions which cover your whole problem. Let's wait for other answers and see whether some else has a suggestion. Cheers, Adrien

[Username]

@Adrien Ragot (Play SQL / CYO) Play SQL Spreadsheets link is broken.