Best way to save data

[knappster]

Hi, I am writing a windows application that will be saving a lot of data, and I have designed a database for it in access. However when I go to distribute the application, won't having an access database attached as the backend allow users to just open it and view all the data?? I would really like to keep the data in it confidential. What's the best way of doing this?? Should I even just save the data, say as binary, to .dat files instead? If I do this then I take it I'll have to create datasets and tables in memory at the start to load all the data into. Would this be quicker than using a database?

Any help much appreciated...

 

[HeavenCore]

would an sqlexpress option with its built in authentication be better?

but if you want to stick with access you can secure the database via creating users, groups, and permissions are created and set via an .mdw file, then specifying the login and password in the connection string as follows:

    strConnect = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" & _
        "Password=OpenSesame;User ID=Administrator;" & _
        "Data Source=C:\AccessDBs\DB1.mdb;" & _
        "Persist Security Info=True;" & _
        "Jet OLEDB:System database=C:\AccessDBs\system.mdw"

Saying that i have not done this since vb6 days and there may well be a better way with modern access.
But sqlexpress may be idea for you too, it was specifically designed for distribution.

 

[knappster]

Cheers for the reply, I didn't know you could do that... The reason I went with Access is that probably nearly everyone will have the ability to read and write to the database without having to download drivers whereas with sql express won't driver need to be downloaded to use the application? Or am I getting it all wrong!

 

[cjard]

SQLExpress will need to be installed on the client machine, but it really is a better option than access in so many ways!

 

[HeavenCore]

sqlexpress install is only comparable to having access installed or any relevant Jet.dll's imo so you may as well choose sqlexpress and if its ease of setup i bet you could bundle sqlexpress into your installer somehow