I haven't tried that and not sure if it is a go but there are very powerful
Linux databases that could do the job.

Sure, mysql is great but, that doesnt help the fact that this
application is built on MS Access both front end and back end. I cant
port a commercial application to another db without trouble.

but I realize the difficulties that porting would cause!

Yea, If I had my way, this app would be online and not tied to a server
and desktop.

I wonder if there's a way to do a data Export from Access.

If it can export 1 or 2 databases into an easy-to-read sql file then...

(thinking out loud) you could possibly massage the commands so that the same
data dump can be imported into a MYSQL GUI front-end such as PHPMyAdmin.

If this can be done, you'd have to first freeze the app so that no new data is
collected on the MS side after the export process.

I wouldnt want to be the person to do it.

But I might check in to it for fun

How about Access in a Virtual MS box on a linux system?

maybe this link will help;

www.kitebird.com/.../access-migrate.html#TOC_6

You know, many things are possible, it is a matter for time and money. May
be you need to use the money approach and the fact that even then it will
most likely run poorly because of the basic design of the software and/or
hardware involved. Bean counters may not understand software but do
understand money.

It was just a thought.
After running the app on Windows with 1gb of ram it was slow. Over
wine... it would be (most likely) impossibly slow.