Is there a Runtime version for end users to run an Access applica.

L

Larry Buss

I am a software developer and starting to get up to speed with Microsoft
Access 2003. I will be developing Access applications for my end users. Is
there a way to set up a Runtime version for my users? How do I do that?

Thanks,
Larry Buss
 
R

Ron Hinds

Larry Buss said:
I am a software developer and starting to get up to speed with Microsoft
Access 2003. I will be developing Access applications for my end users. Is
there a way to set up a Runtime version for my users? How do I do that?
Click to expand...

I haven't used 2003 yet but in earlier versions you needed to install (on
your dev machine) the Office "version" (e.g. 97, XP) Developer Edition. The
CD I have for Office XP is titled "Microsoft Office XP Developer". It comes
with a runtime version of Access for distribution.
 
G

George Nicholson

the developer's version of Access.

....Doesn't exist for Office 2003. He'll need Visual Studio Tools for Office
System (VSTO) which includes the Access Developers Extensions (ADE).

Note that VSTO comes with various levels of a MSDN subscription but ADE only
comes with Univer$sal.
 
L

Larry Buss

How much does the Developers version of Access 2003 cost? My two choices at
COMP/USA today were the full version of Access 20003 or the upgrade to Access
2003. Since I met the conditions for the upgrade, I bought that for $118.
 
6

'69 Camaro

Hi, Larry.
How much does the Developers version of Access 2003 cost?
Click to expand...

If you don't already have a Universal MSDN subscription (sounds like you
don't), then it's US$199 for the upgrade version (if you qualify), or US$499
for the full version. Those are retail prices, so I'd suggest shopping
around to get a little more favorable price. Please see the following Web
page for more info:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/vsto/default.aspx

HTH.

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips.

(Please remove ZERO_SPAM from my reply E-mail address, so that a message
will be forwarded to me.)
 
L

Larry Buss

Gosh, since I only have one customer at this time, perhaps I should have them
purchase Access 2003 and forget about a Runtime version. What do you think of
this approach?

Thanks,
Larry
 
J

John Vinson

Gosh, since I only have one customer at this time, perhaps I should have them
purchase Access 2003 and forget about a Runtime version. What do you think of
this approach?
Click to expand...

Common and reasonable. (That is, if they won't let you bill them for
the cost of the developer tools... <g> )

John W. Vinson[MVP]
 
6

'69 Camaro

Hi, Larry.
perhaps I should have them
purchase Access 2003 and forget about a Runtime version. What do you think of
this approach?
Click to expand...

I would make the same decision. There's extra money and effort required on
your part to purchase the VSTO and for building the runtime version of an
application. This will have to be passed on to the customer, so the cost
savings of not purchasing the retail version is quickly overwhelmed by labor
costs if only one license of the software is being sold to the customer.
Many developers put a minimum of 15 to 20 licenses as a break-even point.
Below this and the developer is either going to have to charge a noticeably
higher price per license, or he'll have to "eat it."

You mentioned that you are "starting to get up to speed" in Access 2003. Is
that just this version, or Access in general? Access has a steep learning
curve anyway, and building an application for the runtime version of Access
requires a more robust application (thorough error handling is a _must_) and
the built-in menus and wizards are not available in the runtime, either, so
custom menus and toolbars need to be built. Test out your application with
the /runtime command-line switch to see how the application would look and
act on the user's computer when it's installed with the runtime, and you'll
see what I'm talking about.

HTH.

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips.

(Please remove ZERO_SPAM from my reply E-mail address, so that a message
will be forwarded to me.)
 
L

Larry Buss

Please reply to my questions below:

1. So I made a mistake by purchasing the Access 2003 Upgrade for $118 and I
should have purchased the developers version of Access for what I am told
retails for $499. I did not see the developers version in COMP-USA. Is this
correct?

2. With the Runtime for Access in the developers version, will it let a
developer create a multi-user version to run from a network where two users
can be running the program at the same time? I assume if a user buys the
Access 2003 Upgrade, they can only run it from their local hard drive and
also they could get into areas that could cause problems for them. Am I right?

3. Is it easy to setup and run the runtime in the developers version?

4. Where does one purchase the developers version of Access? Also, does the
developers version contain all of access? (in other words, I should have not
purchased Access 2003 Upgrade).

Many thanks in advance for answering the above questions.
Larry Buss
 
J

jwm

What you're seeking is MS Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003. That suite
has the A2003 Developer Extensions which permit one to distribute
applications with the runtime version of A2003.
 
G

George Nicholson

There is no Developers Edition for Access 2003.

The license to distribute the Access 2003 Runtime comes with the Access
Developer Extensions (ADE) which is part of the Visual Studio Tools for
Office (VSTO).

VSTO does *not* include Access 2003, but you need Access 2003 in order to
use the ADE.

2 separate products.
 
J

John Vinson

Please reply to my questions below:

1. So I made a mistake by purchasing the Access 2003 Upgrade for $118 and I
should have purchased the developers version of Access for what I am told
retails for $499. I did not see the developers version in COMP-USA. Is this
correct?
Click to expand...

ONLY if you want to generate multiple installations of your database
on machines which do not have Access installed. If you have only one
customer, you'ld do better to buy them a copy (or make them buy a
copy) of upgrade or retail Access.
2. With the Runtime for Access in the developers version, will it let a
developer create a multi-user version to run from a network where two users
can be running the program at the same time? I assume if a user buys the
Access 2003 Upgrade, they can only run it from their local hard drive and
also they could get into areas that could cause problems for them. Am I right?
Click to expand...

No you are not. Access is multiuser out of the box, runtime or full
version. It is not necessary to purchase the developer edition to get
multiuser capability. And Access is network-capable; it's perfectly
routine to have a "backend" database on a shared network drive and one
to 150 or so users all sharing it from "frontend" databases on their
own machines.
3. Is it easy to setup and run the runtime in the developers version?
Click to expand...

Not particularly, unfortunately, especially if your target machines
already have Access installed. Quite finicky in fact!
4. Where does one purchase the developers version of Access? Also, does the
developers version contain all of access? (in other words, I should have not
purchased Access 2003 Upgrade).
Click to expand...

It does... but in your case, the point is probably moot; I don't think
you NEED the developer's version.

John W. Vinson[MVP]
 
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