Integrating SharePoint 2013 with the Office Applications (part 7) - Microsoft Access - Access Services

Access Services

SharePoint includes a managed service application for Access—Access Services. With Access Services, users can do much more than just host an Access file in a document library, or link lists with Access tables. Access Services integrates the complete Access functionality into SharePoint, so legacy Access users need not rely on the Office Access application to host forms, run queries, and provide reports.

Access Services provides several benefits to collaborative users of data retained in an Access file using SharePoint.

• Access Services locks objects and not the entire file when users make changes (unlike the full Access application).
• Access Services secures data in an Access database using the same SharePoint permissions model.
• Access Service is a middle-tier service and web service application, so users can share access to their Access data across the farm and other connecting SharePoint farms.
• Everything runs in the world of the browser; users do not need the Access Office application on their computer.

The following steps demonstrate how to set up Access Services, via Central Admin, and how to leverage the capabilities of Access Services:

1. Open Central Administration.
2. Click the Manage Services on Server link, under the System Settings heading.
3. Make sure the Access Database Service is in a started state.
4. Click the Manage Service Applications link, under the Application Management heading, from the Central Admin home page.
5. Scroll down the list and see if an Access Services application already exists. If not, continue.
6. Click the New icon on the ribbon and select Access Services from the menu.
7. In the dialog, give the service a name and create an application pool.
8. Click the OK button and wait while SharePoint creates the new service application.
9. You may configure the settings for Access Services by selecting the service application; then click the Manage icon on the ribbon.

Now that you have Access Services configured, I shall demonstrate how to create an Access web application. This is an Access database application residing in SharePoint. Much like Excel Services, Access Services allows you to host Access databases in SharePoint and manipulate them without the requirement of Access installed on client computers.

• 1.  Navigate to your SharePoint site, to host your Access web app.
• 2.  Click the gear icon in the top right.
• 3.  Select the menu item to add an app.
• 4.  Page through the available templates until you find the Access app.
• 5.  Click the tile and then the button to add it.
• 6.  SharePoint will prompt you for a name for your app (Figure 18).

• 7.  Provide a name and click the Create button.
• 8.  Wait a moment while SharePoint creates the Access app.

If you prefer to start your Office applications from the Office application, you can also create a new Access application using Access 2013, as follows:

1. Open Access 2013.
2. Choose the Custom Web App template.
3. Give the application a name.
4. Provide the location of the app as your SharePoint site.
5. Click the Create button.
6. You may need to authenticate, as necessary.