How can mysql appear like ms-sql

[st n]

Hi,

it is possible to connect M$-software to mysql. Normally that is done by using the ODBC-connector.

In our university-project we want to connect M$-Access to a mysql-server. Access would run on the windows-PCs of our project-partners. The mysql-database would be on one central server. Connection would be made via internet.

We asked our partners to enter their data for us. This would be a favor to us, meaning that the partners will only do it if it is made really easy for them.

Unfortunately the users of the client-PCs do not usually have admin-rights. The admins of the PCs are not at the same site as the users. Also we are talking about a number of different sites and different admins, all in rural areas.


So we have an acceptance-problem here.

Each user would have to have the ODBC-connector installed on his/her computer, meaning that the admin has to travel to the site just to install a small piece of software. Also each time someone gets a new PC the admin would have to travel again.

It was made quite clear that this is too much hassle to ask of our partners.

So I was wondering if there is some way to connect an unmodified windows-PC to a mysql-database. There are many database-connectors already installed in M$-windows, for example for M$-sql-server. If it were possible to install the equivalent of the OCBC-connector on our server we could make the mysql-server appear like an mssql-server to each client and we would be able to connect our clients just by telling them their username+password.

Is there a way to do this?

THX, stn