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Can it be done? I'm working on a senior project and I've set my team up with a Linux web-server running Apache. I've chosen to use PHP, but the team insists on using MS Access for the DB. I've searched around the Internet and can't find anyway to interface to the database on Linux because all the examples use a COM object which is only for Windows. Does anyone know of a possible solution? I'd much rather be using MySQL here, but they wanted Access because SQL is too confusing. (yes i've tried to explain the query syntax is identical and the only real difference on the front-end is the DB editor)

I have already emailed my team explaining the current issue. I likely won't hear anything back from them until at least late this evening and so I figured I'd ask all of you in the meantime for any thoughts or suggestions. Not asking for work to be done, only if anyone knows of a way to interface php to an acess mdb file hosted on a linux server.

For those curious, we're building an eCommerce website. Accelerated senior project, 8 week course. Every team decided to choose the ecommerce from the list of given projects (I wanted to do the mars lander simulation but was out-voted). Did I mention most of us are not majoring in web design and in fact my degree is in digital forensics? Our senior project course is seriously poorly designed.

Is there no ODBC adapter for php for linux? That'd do it I reckon.

Just tell them it's not possible in linux Tell them about phpmyadmin and tell them if they want to make something actually worth their time, to use mysql.

Anyway, I dunno if this helps?

http://www.easysoft.com/products/data_access/odbc_odbc_bridge/index.html

mysql is the way to go, it is quite easy once you know how but always make sure you get the design right before implementing. If you have a hard time coding the mysql functions you can always generate them in access and use the code as a reference or even just using the code it generates, sometimes it works

I don't think there is a way for linux to use access DB's but could be wrong since I havent really looked into it that much.

Kentaree has hit the nail on the head...
http://www.w3schools.com/PHP/php_db_odbc.asp

Alternatively, I strongly suggest a 'proper' database such as MySQL and then if they REALLY want a moron-proof GUI, something like Navicat or (my weapon of choice) SQLYog (or Cocoa MySQL for Macs, tho judging by the MS Access fetish, I doubt they have the sense to use Macs hehe).

I convinced them to use mysql, yay! Even got them installing xampp to play with. Gotta do a meeting tonight to finish showing them how it all works.