Hired as a QA Manager for a VB 4.0 system with 28 developers / testers.

Found out quickly that it was necessary to learn MS Access right away. It turns out that it was portables with a VB front-end, an Access back-end, with the first RAS Server (That be Dial-up for you youngsters) to a SQL Server (beta first release) and a custom ODBC interface to AS400 International JIT Network.

After this project, I was asked to become a Microsoft Access Trainer (for programming). To keep up on the training, I carried a "luggable" SQL Server that just verily fit under an airplane seat. The demand for Access Front-End connected to SQL Server kept me traveling over 30 weeks per year to a different location each week. Training often turned into troubleshooting at every level.

Part of the MCSD certification included Excel Object Model Programming. Excel can be set up as a server on a network. While many SQL Server professionals cringe at the thought of Excel being used anywhere in close proximity to the SQL Server, there are many cases where it does just that for real-time processing. Manufacturing real-time data processing such as Fractal analysis for cooling glass in Fiber Optics Manufacturing Control Systems at Dow Corning is one example. Industrial control monitoring systems or Wall Street decision support systems are other examples.

My fortune was to have a quality MS SQL Server Users Group available. While I sit in total awe for most of the meetings, the concepts allow me to ask really stupid questions on sites like this one. Or, search the Internet for hours to cobble a solution together. However, at most job assignments, I often have to install, setup, migrate and other wise lead staff to some solution or better process.

While Microsoft is moving sales to the large systems, don't forget that the small business or big business divisions with under 200 employees rarely employ C# or .NET programmers. A dozen applications with ten to thirty users each can add huge efficiencies to a small business. Isn't small business leading the Recovery as big business is downsizing? Allowing a small business or small division to be successful with tools such as Access and Excel -than migrating to a SQL Server back-end is popular.

B.T.W. My Access applications with SQL back end use Citrix to distribute with tiny bandwidth, works on PC, Apple Tablets and more. One person writes the front-end, middle ware, and administrates SQL Server.