Access on CD for promotion purposes

[Trotter]

Is there any "easy" way to get my access db to work from a CD, and at the same time with a web-like front end?
I have a product manual on our web site already, and I would like to make the promo-CD with a similar design.

I could create what I need with a Form, but this seem to be impossible to publish via a CD (at least for me it is...)

 

[Mr. B]

CDs are read only and therefore an Access database cannot be accessed and opened from the CD.

 

[Trotter]

Thanks. I see your point.

But is there any other way I can utilize the db information in such a way (promo on CD)?
I was told that i could put the entire web site on a CD, but that seem to be more complicated. Maybe there are ome software for this out there...

Any advice on where to look would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr. B]

Normally with any type of demo type software there is some kind of installation from the CD to write the required files to a location on a hard drive.

If you are talking about a website, then I would think that you could provide that as a URL on the web and just have restrictions on it there. I may not be seeing the entire problem so I am not sure where you need to go.

 

[DCrake]

The main issue with demos on CD's is the fact that as soon ac Access attempts to open an mdb the first thing it does is to check for the existance of the locking file in the current folder (.ldb) if not it creates on. However, as the media is a CD which is read-only (would not distribute a demo on RW CD) Access cannot create this file. This is why some sort or installation is required. As explained earlier.

David

 

[Trotter]

Thanks for update. I then need to find a totally different way to solve this.

 

[Mr. B]

Trotter,

I really don't think I understand totally what you are wanting to do. You mentioned "web site" in your OP. If this is actually a web site have you considered putting it on the web with restrictions, login, and demo only pages, etc?

If you can provide a little more detail, perhaps someone can give you some alternative ideas.

 

[Trotter]

Hello again, and thanks for follow up.

The thing is that we have a site with all info already, but still want to distribute some of this db-info on CDs for exhibitions etc, and other venues where we can find potential new clients (and where we cannot be present for direct demo on internet).

Basically this is to create interest for what we offer, and to "guide" potential clients to our regular site/services. And therefore we'd also like to have a web-like interface on the CD (for off-line view).

This CD will then act as a product manual, but customers will of course need to "sign up" to our web services to get the lates updates etc.

 

[Mr. B]

I would suggest an interactive PowerPoint presentation built in such a way that it provides navigation options and demos your web site but provides no other options. This can be built to self-run or just be available for intereaction by those who would walk by.

You can make it look very real to the casual viewer.

 

[Trotter]

Hi, and thanks again for your follow-up.
Yes this was an idea that could work! I did not think of PP for this purpose.

I should be able to figure out a way to do it, but if you have some leads, I would appreciate that a lot.

Thanks again

 

[Mr. B]

About all I can say about developing a Keosk type presentation is that you are basically limited only by your imagination. PowerPoint is a very powerful tool, especially if you include programming. It can be designed in just about any way that would be best suited for the task.

Good luck with your project!