Preparing for Access 2010

B

Bob Howard

I'm preparing my application's installation packaging and documentation for
ultimate release of Access 2010. Checking with MS, I see that two versions
are available (and quite a bit different in size). One is Access 2010
32-bit. The other is Access 2010 64-bit. There's also a download link for
each ... I guess this dnwloads the beta version.

Here's my question...

The MS specs don't specifically state this, but will the 32-bit version of
Access 2010 Runtime work on 64-bit Windows 7 ? It'll obviously install into
the 32-bit "Program Files" folder... but will it work and is it supported?

Any clues??

bob
 
A

Albert D. Kallal

will the 32-bit version of Access 2010 Runtime work on 64-bit Windows 7 ?
It'll obviously install into the 32-bit "Program Files" folder... but will
it work and is it supported?

Any clues??

Yes, all the 32 bit software can install and should run just fine on a 64
bit box.

Keep in mind that there has been 64 bit versions of windows xp, vista and
windows 7, and they all been able to use + run 32 bit software.

Your problem will not be if your 32 bit version runs, the major problem you
could encounter is if your application does automation of word, outlook, and
that user has an 64 bit version of office. The reason for this issue is that
32 bit programs can not automate 64 bit versions and vice versa.

In other words 32 and 64 bit versions of software can't talk to each other.
If you doing any automation with other parts of office, this quite much
means you have to have an 32 bit version and an 64 bit version of your
software since customers for office 2010 will have a choice of 32 or 64 bit
versions of office.

So, right now, since all versions of office are 32 bit (even when installed
on 64 bit boxes), you don't have a worry or problem. For office 2010 some of
your users will be running 64 bit versions of office, and if your software
integrates with other office parts, then you have to take this into account.
And, if you go with the 64 bit version then AND you use any windows api's in
your application then they will have to be changed to work correctly for 64
bits. And, if you do distribute an accDE, then again you have to have an 32
and 64 bit version since the source code is not available and your code is
pre-compiled. If you provide the VBA source and you don't use any windows
api's then your application should run on 32 or 64 without any changes or
problems.
 
B

Bob Howard

Thank you. Unfortunately, I have some DLLs under the covers of the
application that come from several third parties, and these are 32-bit ...
so I'll need to simply place a restriction on my application that it runs
with 32-bit Access 2010.

I don't employ automation.

But for purposes of packaging (I use Inno Setp as the installer software),
I'd like to know whether I can detect whether the installed version of
Access 2010 is 32-bit or 64-bit. Is there something reliable in the
registry? I know I can detect whether Access 2010 is installed ... but I
need to know which one.

Thanks...

bob
 
T

Tony Toews [MVP]

Albert D. Kallal said:
Your problem will not be if your 32 bit version runs, the major problem you
could encounter is if your application does automation of word, outlook, and
that user has an 64 bit version of office. The reason for this issue is that
32 bit programs can not automate 64 bit versions and vice versa.

In other words 32 and 64 bit versions of software can't talk to each other.
If you doing any automation with other parts of office, this quite much
means you have to have an 32 bit version and an 64 bit version of your
software since customers for office 2010 will have a choice of 32 or 64 bit
versions of office.

Uh oh. This will be a problem with the Auto FE Updater then. It's a
32 bit VB6.exe and the new release out in a day or so does do some
optional, but highly useful, automation with Outlook if it's
installed.

Now the silly part is it's about a total of ten lines of Outlook
specific code. Hmm, maybe I can throw that into a separate 64 bit
exe of some sort.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Tony's Main MS Access pages - http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/
For a convenient utility to keep your users FEs and other files
updated see http://www.autofeupdater.com/
Granite Fleet Manager http://www.granitefleet.com/
 
P

poppsnchopps

Bob Howard said:
I'm preparing my application's installation packaging and documentation
for ultimate release of Access 2010. Checking with MS, I see that two
versions are available (and quite a bit different in size). One is Access
2010 32-bit. The other is Access 2010 64-bit. There's also a download
link for each ... I guess this dnwloads the beta version.

Here's my question...

The MS specs don't specifically state this, but will the 32-bit version of
Access 2010 Runtime work on 64-bit Windows 7 ? It'll obviously install
into the 32-bit "Program Files" folder... but will it work and is it
supported?

Any clues??

bob
 

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