Distribute Access .mdb file

[Nick]

Hi,

We're are about to develop an app in C# that will use a MS Access
database file for data storage. The db structure will not be
modified. The user will use the C# developed app to view and edit the
data (as well as add/delete records etc.).

In order to distribute or app (including .mdb file) to PC's without MS
Access installed do we need anything (I'm thinking specically about
the MS Access Runtime)?

What are the licensing implications for distributing access databases
(not access) to PC's without Access installed?

Regards and thanks,

Nick

P.S. This is going to be our first C# project after years with
Borland Builder. If anyone else has made the transition and has any
tales to tell I would be very interested in hearing them here or
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Nick

I am under the impression that you need to have the Developer's Edition to
distribute .mdbs and the Runtime, OR, the user needs to have MS Access.
This is just an impression.

Have you checked for information on the Microsoft site?

 

[Arvin Meyer]

Distributing an mdb file requires no license. The runtime allows one to
distribute an Access front-end. If being read from and written to by C#, you
won't need the Access runtime since you already have a front-end.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Thanks, Arvin. I wasn't familiar with the "arcania" of the licensing.

Nick, pardon my mis-understanding.

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>

 

[Brett Robichaud]

To extend the original question a bit. If developing a C# app that uses an
access database should I install the latest Jet drivers during my apps
installation?

As I understand it MDAC no longer comes with Jet drivers so there is no need
to install MDAC. I believe there is a separate installer for the Jet
drivers. Should I be concerned with installing this to make sure the Jet
drivers are there or can I assume that every Windows machine has some
version of Jet? Or does the .Net Framework 1.1 include everything I need to
manipulate access databases?

Please correct me if I've made any incorrect statements above.

-Brett-