use database without owning access

I

ianalexh

i am developing a database for company use, but we cannot buy licenses for
everyone. how do i set up a runtime database for general users and how much
will it cost me? can i do it from access 2000 or do i need to purchase 2003?
 
R

Roger Carlson

You can do this in any version of Access, but you need to get the
Developer's Edition. It is called different things in different versions.
In Access 2000, it was Office 2000 Developer. In Access XP (2002) it was
Office XP Developer. I'm not sure what it is called in 2003 (haven't moved
to that yet).

Just to clarify, a "run-time" database is NOT a executable file. When you
use the Developer Edition to "Package" the database into an installable
file, you get the option to include the Run-time version of Access. The
database itself is unaltered, but the package installation also installs the
run-time version of Access which will allow your application to be run.
They won't be able to modify the and most of the standard Access toolbars
and menus are missing. That means you have to program all the functions
your application needs and not rely on built-in Access functions.

Additionally, you should NOT have any macros if you are using a run-time to
run the application as any error in the macro will cause the whole
application to close without explanation. Convert all macros to code and
have error-trapping in every subroutine.

--
--Roger Carlson
Access Database Samples: www.rogersaccesslibrary.com
Want answers to your Access questions in your Email?
Free subscription:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ACCESS-L
 
6

'69 Camaro

Hi.

To add to Roger's excellent advice, 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

As Roger mentioned, 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 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.)
 
Top