Linked tables

[Batista1409]

I am relatively new to Access and trying to link access to external Microsoft net framework sql database. The purpose is to query the source database in Access. Is it possible to overwrite the source data. I do not want to risk overwriting or damaging the source data. Is linking to the source database read only. If no, how can I link in read only mode.

[Micron]

If your permissions on the data allow edit/delete then linking will allow that also. One way to ensure you cannot damage the data is to build native Access tables and import into them and only work on the Access tables. However, if the source db tables have features that Access can't handle you will likely have issues importing that data, or at least when you try to use it. Probably the safest way to import the data is to import (Get Data from the Ribbon in Access) otherwise you'll need to create make table queries (with the notion of using them only once) or append queries where you append what's in the source to what's in the target tables after linking these tables. You'd then delete the links to eliminate the potential for messing them up. However, be careful - you could append or make tables on the other back end if you're real unfamiliar with doing that. If you don't have permissions that will allow you to modify or delete then that's much safer, but I think the import is likely your best option.

[Batista1409]

Many thanks

[isladogs]

Another way would be to create SQL Server views based on the tables. These have no primary key.
Link (don't import) those views instead of the tables. They will be read only.