Grey Screen From MDE file

[RNUSZ@OKDPS]

I'm using Microsoft Office 2003 Professional. I've built an Access 2003
database application and used the Tools, Database Utilities, Make MDE to
create a *.mde file of my *.mdb file. The compile or build worked fine. I
can open the MDE on my machine and it works fine, but when the *.mde file is
copied to another desktop unit, that supposedly has the required Access
Runtime files on it, and you attempt to open the *.mde file, Access opens,
but only shows you a Grey screen with a single Toolbar on the top of the open
form, no other forms are displayed, no tables, no queries, nothing.... any
clues to what we or I did incorrect.....

Can someone identify what files have to be on the other PC(s) that will have
the *.mde file on it in order for another user to be able to use the forms,
reports, etc that are in the compiled *.mde....

Thanks in advance

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

Do you have a startup form set?

Any kind of ms-access application does need a user interface (it is not much
acceptable to throw up the ms-access interface, and let the user somehow
figure out what form to launch!!). Since the user did not purchase
ms-access, and it is only a runtime, then it is assumed that those end users
will NOT know how to use ms-access. This simply means that you must provide
the interface for the users. That interface can simply be a form with a few
buttons on it, or you can build some nice menu bars. In fact, when I use the
runtime, my users don't even know (or care!) if it is ms-access, since they
never see any of the internal stuff anyway.

So, you need to AT LEAST give the users a startup form. If you want to see
how this looks, and is done, try downloading the 3rd example here:
(ms-access interface hidden example).
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/msaccess/DownLoad.htm

And, if you want some more screen shots, and some ideas as to "what/why"
menus should be made take quick read of the following:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm
The above also has a great series of screen shots of some menus in
ms-access.