updating Access database

[KeithK]

Hi,
I inherited and am maintaining a split
Access 2003 database (2 mdb files). It has been
running pretty much flawlessly for many years.
(I am on Office 2019 now.)
I haven't felt the need to update the database,
and, not being an Access expert, knowing exactly
how to update it, then split it out again, without
a lot of testing to make sure everything is ok.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, have been looking into alternatives to Access,
but some people have basically said, "hey, if it works, don't fix it".
Access is still too popular for Microsoft to abandon ship on it,
in my opinion, any time soon, anyway.
What is your thought on this, and any recommendations to
switching to a different dbms?



Thanks,
Keith

[Micron]

The need for a alternate dbms is entirely dependent on factors such as are you storing attachments or pictures? Are you dealing with millions of records and are approaching the max sizes? Is security of paramount importance? If yes to any of those, then you might need to choose a different back end such as SQL Server or MySql (if it's still around).
If everything is running fine, I would not update from mdb to accdb if that's what you're saying. At most I might update the fe to accdb or accde from mdb/mde.

I suspect your db doesn't use replication otherwise you wouldn't even be able to open it with version 2016. I'll bet there has been a few who found this out the hard way when they updated their version of Office. So I agree, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[KeithK]

Thanks for that advice. No to both questions. it's a small database -
no attachments or pictures; no problem with security - only a small
group using it with passwords.
I'll think about updating the fe to accdb if that will make any difference in things.
As long as Microsoft keeps supporting the older version, however, I should be ok.
Keith

[Micron]

I'll think about updating the fe to accdb if that will make any difference in things.

Unless you need something that the updated version will provide I don't think you'll notice any positive change with what you have. I've read that older versions (mdb's) sometimes have issues with Automation and there is always the possibility that not updating leaves a db in the dust. F'rinstance, you upgrade Access and then find you can't open an older db (e.g. Access 97). That could eventually happen to db's created in, for example, 2010 at some point in the future. The lesson to be learned there is to find out what happens to old db's if you're planning to update Access itself. Last but not least, if you're using User Level Security you will lose it if you update to your current version.