What is your initial question? SQL server can probably do it.

Hi Adam, thanks for your response!

Several questions:
1. Can I make it so anyone vis web link can add data to my tables via a link to a form entry? From what I read, SharePoint is not the way to go for public data entry/reports.
2. Can I make reports accessible to the public vis web link?
3. I am all about learning, trying, filing and doing the dirty work, but is there someone that help me with the initial framework so I don't waste time setting up something the wring way initially?
4. Is Power Bi best for dashboards?

Thats the big ones.  Thanks Adam

I am not a SQL server expert I've just played with it enough for my own needs. Just to verify though, you're not looking for a remote user to use access to enter data, you want them to do it through a web interface? I think this sounds like an ASP thing.

Let me try to send out the bat signal here to the boss. HEY RICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Hi Adam, i'm not looking for someone that is completely outside of my company to be able to add data to the database.  In Smartsheets, anyone can enter data with just a link.  Here is an example: [LINK REMOVED]
But they do not have access to the database.  What im trying to do is have people be able to enter data through forms without being a user and also see reports without being a user.  I hope that makes sense.

Hi Ray. Yes, Adam is correct. Everything you need to do can be accomplished with a combination of Access, Hosted SQL Server, and ASP for the web interface. Sharepoint is not the way to go unless you've got a small team of trusted users. You can make reports public, of course. The page you're reading and interacting with right now is built on the ASP with SQL Server. I practice what I preach, and I've got courses that show most of it. As far as PowerBI goes, I'm not in a position to answer that question as I don't consider myself an expert in it... yet. However there isn't a dashboard yet that I haven't been able to construct using Access or Excel.

Good bat signal, BTW. I check in a couple of times a day to APPROVE posts, but I don't always have the time to answer them. But that got my attention. I stopped recording a video for that! LOL

And yes, Ray, my site doesn't allow external links. You can post screen shots if you want using the link at the top of the thread.

This is great!  Thank you to you both!  I will definitely need help on the Hosted SQL Server and ASP.  I'm assuming that's pretty difficult.  Can you refer me to the courses that cover that?  Also, is there a student that may have more experience thank other that could help me?  I appreciate both of you.

I already linked you to the relevant courses. I would finish the beginner and expert courses you've already purchased so you have a solid foundation of Access first, then move up to the Hosted SQL Server seminar. That will get your database online and show you the basics of ASP. Then if you want more ASP, you can go from there. As far as the students go... I'll leave that up to them to respond. :)

I'm usually quick to jump on these, but not this one. I'm confident enough to bounce ideas off of maybe if you want to post here or email me directly ([email protected]) but I'm not confident enough with ASP to tell you what to do. I've been wanting to get more into ASP for a while now and been putting it off, maybe a good excuse to look through it again.

So I may be able to help some, but not promising anything ;)

If another dev is more comfortable with ASP and wants to help him feel free to post.

There's also the ASP Forum to ask questions. Happy to help there, when I've got time.