Access Services for SharePoint

InfoPath client...Forms Services
Excel client...Excel Services
Access client...uh?

As SharePoint implementations evolve beyond content management and collaboration, there is often a need for custom applications with normalized data models. SharePoint's AllUserData table just doesn't cut it some times.

The business data catalog certainly enhances existing applications, but I think there is a real demand to replace those systems or create new ones. I also think that the value proposition for doing this type of thing with the current SharePoint product line is weak because it requires a lot of custom development.

I think Microsoft should provide the marketplace with Access Services for SharePoint. Perhaps such a feature could provide a way to upsize Access applications to SharePoint, upgrading the Access forms to ASP.NET web part pages and databases to SQL Server.

July 24 2007 NERSUG

I delivered a presentation titled, "Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Enterprise Search," at the New England Regional SharePoint User Group Meeting, on July 24, 2007.

The slides for this presentation have been posted to www.jornata.com and can be downloaded here.