cobb-corrected-100102-backup.mdb
I sucked the mdb file into SQl 2K and took a quick look at it. There's more queries in it than are normally seen in an Access database. I suspect it's native SQL and that they used a DTS package to transform it into Access.
I'd have to see the entire GEMs setup to be certain, but on the surface it looks like this is just a small part being "pumped" out. SQL has the ability to act not only as a transactional and analytical engine, but also a data pump. A data pump just extracts data from the databse, and pumps it from one source to another for whatever reason. Mostly it's used in data mining (OLAP- Online Analytical Processing)/data wharehousing or backups.
There's a couple of clues here that make me suspect this:
- the sheer number of select queries - unusual i an Access database, perfectly normal in SQL.
- the name of the file- backup
- the entries in the VCClosed query - 0 (which I'm guessing stands for not closed)
- lack of any forms - structure of the mdb - - it's only tables and queries - rather odd for an Access database - - more what I'd expect to see from just a portion of a SQL database being extracted.
- I can't see Diebold using an Access database (or the Jet database engine) as the engine behind the program. Not when every Tom Dick and Harry software shop is going to either full blown SQL (or MSDE), Oracle or Pervasive or any one of several others (MySQL) as the backend. Using a file based database system has gone the way of the dodo. (Too cumbersome and too slow and far too limited in the size of the database - - IIRC, Access tops out @ 2GB. SQL tops out in the terrabyte size range)
I can only guess they are transforming the data into Access rather than using more traditional SQL techniques, such as log shipping, due to the cost and the connection(s) involved.
OR
They (Diebold) are using Access as a down and dirty front end for the SQL (Asssuming it's MSSQL based to begin with,,,which I'm 99% certain it is).
I think your best bet would be to run the whole thing past someone well versed in SQL and see what they think.
http://www.sqlmag.com/Forums/ is the TFL of SQL for information.