Access to Azure EXTENDING OFFICE 365 INTO THE CLOUD George Young Dawson Butte Software...

Access to AzureEXTENDING OFFICE 365 INTO THE CLOUD

G e o r g e Yo u n gD a w s o n B u t t e S o f t w a r e

g c y o u n g @ d a w s o n b u t t e . n e t

SHAREPOINT SATURDAY DENVER 2015 – JANUARY 2015 - DENVER, CO


Access Web AppsA new app type for SharePoint and a(nother) foray onto the web for Access

Access is just the “designer”

UI is HTML forms

Data is in SQL Server

HTML hosted in SharePoint

SQL database is hosted in Windows Azure (Azure SQL Database)

There is no client code!


Access Web App Pros and ConsPros

Standardized User InterfaceOne-click DeploymentSQL Server (Azure SQL Database) BackendAuthentication handled by SharePoint

ConsLimited User Interface OptionsNo VBA (just macros)Requires SharePoint or Office 365 for BusinessNo inherent Report functionality


Extending into the CloudAzure SQL Database means that the data is now available from anywhere

UI can be anything that can access a SQL Server database

The application can live outside of SharePoint

SharePoint / Office 365 / Active Directory authentication can be used, if desired


Extending ExamplesSQL Server Management Studio

Excel Charts

Active Directory Authenticated ASP.NET MVC Application

Windows 8 Phone App (Web API)


SQL Server Management StudioWe can view our Web App data in Azure SQL Database in SSMS

If you haven’t already specified access From Any Location in your Web App:Click FILE to open the “Back Stage”Click the Manage button in the Connections sectionIndicate From Any LocationClick the Manage button again and select View Connection InformationCopy that information somewhere handy (and secure, if production)

Open SSMS to a new connection and enter the credentialsMake sure to enter the database name on the Options tab

NOTE: Schema is managed in the Access designer, not in SSMS (unlike “normal” SQL Server)


Excel ReportsWe can view visualizations of the data in Excel

Create a new ODBC ConnectionClick the Data tab, select From Other Data Sources > From Data Connection WizardSelect Other/Advanced, then select SQL Server Native Client 11.0Enter the credentialsUncheck Connect to a Specific TableIn the Select Table, check Enable selection of multiple tablesImport your data to the desired format (Table, PivotTable Report, etc)

Design your report


Extending Access using Visual StudioTwo examples:

ASP.NET web app (MVC)Windows 8 Phone App consuming an ASP.NET Web API interface to database

ASP.NET web apps can live on any IIS server

Visual Studio 2013 Professional or Express Web/Phone (free)


Quick Aside: What is MVC?

ACCESS DAY – OCTOBER 2014 - DENVER, CO

Active-Directory Authenticated MVC Application

Now, web applications that may be accessed anywhere (not just in SharePoint)

We can allowOpen (unauthenticated) accessIndividual user access (stand-alone or federated)Cloud Active Directory (SharePoint/Office 365) authentication

Azure Active Directory can be used to augment SharePoint/Office 365 Active Directory)

On-Premise Active Directory

We’ll build an ASP.NET MVC web application using cloud Active Directory Select Web > ASP.NET Web ApplicationSpecify MVC Specify Organizational Authentication and enter your domain credentialsGenerate site as for App for SharePointThe web app is on the public internet, but access requires Active Directory authentication


Windows Phone 8 AppWe can also interact with our Access Web App database in mobile device apps

Two components:Back end data interface: ASP.NET WebAPIFront-end user interface: Windows Phone 8 (Databound App)

ACCESS DAY – OCTOBER 2014 - DENVER, CO

Windows Phone 8 App Backend:ASP.NET Web APIAlmost identical to MVC web application

Development:New Project > Web > ASP.NET Web ApplicationSelect Web APIChange Authentication to No AuthenticationGenerate Model as for App for SharePointRemove “virtual” keyword from generated classesAdd > New Scaffolded Item > Web API 2 Controller with actionsRunPublish to Azure: Right click on project name > Publish


Windows Phone 8 App Frontend:Databound AppWindows Phone 8 Databound App

Broadest reachLots of churn in Universal Apps right now

Development:New Project > Store Apps > Windows Phone Apps > Databound App (Windows Phone Silverlight)Add Model classEdit ItemViewModel.cs and MainViewModel.csEdit MainPage.xaml and DetailsPage.xamlRun


SummaryAccess 2013/365 opens new scenarios for Access developers to extend their applications to:

SharePoint and Office 365Public and authenticated web sitesMobile device applications

Access/Office/SharePoint developers might consider acquiring basic Visual Studio / MVC skills (or partnering with someone having them) to offer these new scenarios to their customers.

Developers and their clients may benefit from “thinking outside of the box”.

The “classic” Access client forms application can still be at the center of this new web-based extensible set of applications.


ResourcesPlease see the following web site for:

A list of resources for learning more about the applications covered in this talkThe sample Northwind Orders database used in these demosA copy of this PowerPoint presentation

http://www.dawsonbutte.com/accesstoazure/

For additional questions or comments, please email me at: [email protected]

Thank you for attending!




mailto:[email protected]


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