Linda, If your databases are relatively small and you are the only user, it shouldn't hurt to keep them in one database file. The other oadvantage to splitting them is that corruption of your application side won't take your data with it. In my experience, most corruption occurs where the processing takes place, splitting your dbs can help reduce this. What you store can also affect whether this is a good idea. Say for instance you have a database of zip codes to match City and State to. You would likely use this in more than one application. If this is the case, you can create a "back-end" that contains this type of information rather than your traditional back-end database. James -----Original Message----- From: Linda F. Johnson [mailto:linda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 2:45 PM To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [mso] Re: FW: access-Pam :VSMail MX2 Thanks James...makes sense to me now! However, since my business is just me, I would assume I wouldn't need to do this cuz I'm the only one using the database and how big will it really ever get, eh? Linda Publisher ~ ABC ~ All 'Bout Computers Owner ~ Linda's Computer Stop http://personal-computer-tutor.com FREE MS Office eBook Tutorial http://personal-computer-tutor.com/library.htm -----Original Message----- From: mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of James LaBorde Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 1:02 PM To: 'mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: [mso] Re: FW: access-Pam Linda (and everyone one else interested), A front-end/back-end set up is pretty much what it sounds like. You have all of your tables containing all of your data in one database that is stored somewhere accessible by everyone. This is your "back-end" database. It is simply a repository for all of your data. The "front-end" is a separate database that contains all of the forms, queries, reports and code to run the database. It is linked to the back-end tables. This "front-end" is then copied to any workstation that will use it. This set up allows multiple users to have access to the same data, without having to have them share the same database. It reduces corruption (oops, the file won't open any more!) and contention (Hey, I can't open this, it says Joe has exclusive control!) in the database. ************************************************************* You are receiving this mail because you subscribed to mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or MicrosoftOffice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To send mail to the group, simply address it to mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To Unsubscribe from this group, send an email to mso-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=unsubscribe Or, visit the group's homepage and use the dropdown menu. This will also allow you to change your email settings to digest or vacation (no mail). //www.freelists.org/webpage/mso To be able to use the files section for sharing files with the group, send a request to mso-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and you will be sent an invitation with instructions. Once you are a member of the files group, you can go here to upload/download files: http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/msofiles ************************************************************* ************************************************************* You are receiving this mail because you subscribed to mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or MicrosoftOffice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To send mail to the group, simply address it to mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To Unsubscribe from this group, send an email to mso-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=unsubscribe Or, visit the group's homepage and use the dropdown menu. This will also allow you to change your email settings to digest or vacation (no mail). //www.freelists.org/webpage/mso To be able to use the files section for sharing files with the group, send a request to mso-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and you will be sent an invitation with instructions. Once you are a member of the files group, you can go here to upload/download files: http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/msofiles *************************************************************