John,
You can validate almost any application for a limited specific use (Access
included), but the real question is "Is this application appropriate for my
use".
In the case of using Access by itself for managing GxP records, the answer is
"No" %99.9 of the time.
Access has no built in audit function, no built in archiving function, open
volume back ups are problematic, it scales very poorly, and will quickly
take a
performance hit once the database gets big and/or many users attach. Don't
get
me started on the security short comings...
I have seen vendors build front end applications that sit on top of Access,
and
the users have no idea what the engine is. Sometimes it works, most of the
time
it doesn't. It is too difficult to use a front end to compensate for
Access' short
commings.
Try this, contact a Microsoft sales rep. Tell them what you are trying to
do. I'll
bet you $100 they will tell you that you should be using their SQL Server
product, not Access. Access is fine if you are trying to keep a simple
desktop
database for phone numbers, small inventories, etc - NOT for mission critical
appliations. And in this business, GxP records are certainly mission critical.
Regards,
Jim Elliott
Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines
RapidEye@IBM.Net
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