[AccessD] Access to SQL Server

Hi all...

I contract to a large company producing some goods which require me to
process 450 individual orders each month. These orders come from 450
different sources and are (currently) sent to me via 450 individual excel
spreadsheets. To this end I have developed an Access database to process
these orders and also produce the goods.

In the New Year the company is going to change their ordering system to SQL
server and all orders will be placed over the Web therefore centralising
their ordering system. They have asked me what information I need to produce
what I normally do from the server. I think the move is WELL overdue BUT...

I  know little (OK... NOTHING) about SQL server and its capabilities and
would not know the most efficient way of extracting the data.

The data I need is Customer name and address (approx 450), Description of
goods (Up to 700 items Per customer), and quantity to buy.

My head tells me that read only access to a query via ODBC into SQL Server
is the way to go   but many of you are working with Access AND SQL server
and I thought I would ask within the group for advice.

Can I talk technically about SQL server the way I talk about Access ....ie
is the terminology the same as in Tables, Queries, Forms and Modules etc
(certainly dont want to appear stupid when talking about it)

What connection options are there (I am physically 3000 miles from the
server)

The little I have gleaned about SQL server suggests that it is like the "Big
Brother" to Access which means that I can talk about it the way I would talk
about Access but ......am I correct?

As always any help would be appreciated

Regards

Tom Keatley