I currently have an Excel spreadsheet acting as a small data base, about 2000 entries. It is fine for our needs but we now need to allow a couple of staff to securely and quickly access subsets of the data from their cars.
I was thinking the best way to do this was to migrate from Excel perhaps to MS SQL server. (we currently have our website hosted on a Windows server with the option of an MS SQL Server so thought this was a logical plan.) I thought I could then design a simple user form to allow staff to search and query the DB via a browser on a handheld device (phone or tablet).
My questions are
Does the above like a reasonable solution?
Can the excel spreadsheet be easily migrated to an SQL server DB?
What tools are available to quickly develop simple search and display GUIs for this DB if I go this way? I have a good understanding of Relational DB theory and SQL but very limited experience of development. Also time and money are limited so the simpler the better.
Also if my approach is not the most sensible one I would love to hear alternatives. We currently have the excel WB on MS SBS server accessbile via VPN (don't have MS server at the moment). Maybe could get MS Server and make DB available that way?