Hi, Karl.
An Access database (MDB, MDE, or MDB) requires Access to be installed in
order to use the Access objects, such as forms, reports and modules.
However, the data in the tables in the database file can be accessed through
virtually any data access method from another application.
If the user doesn't have Access installed, then the Runtime version can be
installed, but that requires a Runtime license. The unlimited Runtime
license is included in the developer version of Office that allows one to
install the Access Runtime on other computers that don't have the retail
version of Microsoft Access or Microsoft Office Professional installed.
The developer version of Microsoft Office 2003 that includes this Runtime
license is the Access Developer Extensions (ADE), which are included in only
the standalone version of Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003 (VSTO) or with
the VSTO in the Universal version of the MSDN subscription. Either Microsoft
Office Access 2003 or Microsoft Office 2003 Professional is required to be
installed on the developer's computer before the Access Developer Extensions
are installed.
If you do choose to purchase the 2003 version, keep in mind that the
operating system must be Windows 2K SP-3 or above or Windows XP. No earlier
version of Windows will be able to run Office 2003, due to the .Net
framework requirements.
If you choose to purchase an earlier version of the Office Developer
edition, keep in mind that those versions are not the current version of
Office, and may be difficult to find. You may be able to find a bargain in
an eBay online auction, at
http://www.eBay.com, or one of the online used
software vendors might have the older versions of Microsoft Office Developer
for sale. Check any of the following for current availability and prices:
http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msacc.htm
http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msoff.htm
http://www.recycledsoftware.com/pricelst.htm#115
http://www.software-xchange.com
Much more work is involved in producing a Runtime version of an application
than is required for the average Access database application, since it must
be more robust and often needs some of the features that are only available
in the retail version of Access. The extra time involved is often not
cost-effective, unless there are a lot of users of the Access database
application that you are building. A general rule of thumb is that the labor
costs of the professional developer's extra time to produce the Runtime
version is equivalent to the cost of about 10 to 15 retail licenses for
Access. If you are not a professional developer, then you may want to
calculate the break-even point a little -- or a lot -- higher than this,
depending upon your experience level.
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.)
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