Used as a back end to all our very large databases, SQL Server is the heavy weight of our tools where the size and speed of a system, often with  many users, dictates this option. We can also develop in SQL Express if appropriate.

Often used as a reporting front end, Excel can be configured to link directly to SQl views as pivot tables, allowing you to use a familiar tool to analyse data that would be beyond the capability of excel as an integral flat file.

Despite the final version of a database being held in SQL Server, we nearly always develop and prototype in Access during the early stages of a project, to enable us to discuss with the user and refine requirements. Once it has reached an acceptable stage it is then Upsized to SQL Server, using Access or .NET as the front end.

Upsizing is now carried out using the software MUST.  An automated product that was developed by Andy Couch while moving a large Access Database to a SQL Server back end as part of a Gravitas Project. You can find out more about MUST at www.upsizing.co.uk.