Best DB Program

[Pat Hartman]

jal, as to the Access licensing issue, only developers need licenses for Access. All users can use the Access runtime engine which is free for A2007 and around $600 (only one copy is needed) for A2003 if you can find it.

 

[Mike375]

All users can use the Access runtime engine which is free for A2007 and around $600 (only one copy is needed) for A2003 if you can find it.

Pat,

Could you look at this thread, from post 8 to about post 11

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=786499#post786499

I need to soon go down the track of having runtime and from the above thread I am understanding that I could use A2003 but no w not sure.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Mike, the biggest issue with using the runtime to run your application is that you will really need to get rid of all your macros and convert them to code. Runtime errors that occur in macros or unhandled errors in VBA for that matter will simply close the application. Think of it as the Access version of the blue screen of death. The other issue is that you need to create custom menus. I find these to be a royal pain. There isn't a really good tool to work with them in A2003 and there is no tool whatsoever in A2007. What you might want to do is to develop the app in A2003 and create an .mde but distribute the A2007 runtime. I don't like buying used software, you never know what you are getting and you have no recourse. Download the A2007 runtime it's free - and play with it.

 

[Mike375]

Mike, the biggest issue with using the runtime to run your application is that you will really need to get rid of all your macros and convert them to code. Runtime errors that occur in macros or unhandled errors in VBA for that matter will simply close the application

.

I am not selling what I use but make other smaller applications and use code for those, although I have been doing that since you can't hide macros in the MDE. But I will be soon expanding into areas where lost of people will only have MS Office Standard. In fact I have recently being replicating in Excel some of the things I make in Access but there are limitations.

I find these to be a royal pain. There isn't a really good tool to work with them in A2003 and there is no tool whatsoever in A2007.

So what happend when using A2007? I am assuming that the Access toolbar is missing. What I make for people at the moment does use any of the Access toolbar. The DB is started from a shortcut. Although for some people I show them how to use the Access Filter By Selection.

What you might want to do is to develop the app in A2003 and create an .mde but distribute the A2007 runtime. I don't like buying used software, you never know what you are getting and you have no recourse. Download the A2007 runtime it's free - and play with it.

I am not clear here. Are you saying I can download the A2007 runtime and use that to run what I make in A2003.

As to A2003 runtime, it was my understanding from the other poster that it contained runtime and a license was purhcased from Microsoft so as to be able to use it. I am putting of phoning Microsoft Australia until I have as many facts as possible since it is such a painful experience

 

[Pat Hartman]

Microsoft does not sell 2003 versions any longer. Your only option would be an after market sale from somplace like ebay and that runs the risk of licensing issues.

I have not tried the 2007 runtime but my client is using A2007 to run an .mde created by A2003 so I'm pretty sure that the runtime will do it also. That would mean that you don't even need A2007 on your development PC. You can work entirely in A2003 and as long as you create menus and/or toolbars, you should be ok with the runtime. You can also test the effect of using the runtime by opening your application with the \runtime switch. This allows the retail Access to simulate the runtime Access.

Also, since you created your app with A2003 and are using custom menus, the ribbon is hidden and only your menu/toolbar show which saves a lot of precious vertical space for those using laptops.

 

[Mike375]

I do have 5 copies of MSOffice 2003 Professional.

I just downloaded the AccessRuntime but can't find it

The only thing a search turned up for AccessRuntime.exe was a thing in Windws/Prefetch

But it listed in that section from Control Panel for Unistall etc. 124 mb

 

[Mike375]

I found it

It is in MSOffice/Office12

I was looking for RuntimeAccess.exe as that what the download calls the file but it is just MSAccess.exe and with a slightly different looking key for the logo.

Now I just have work out what to do with it

 

[Mike375]

I went to an .mdb file and right clicked and then Open With and selected the A2007 key but only a bare screen opened with Powered by Microsoft Access at the bottom right and a couple of things at the top left and only Exit working.

 

[Mike375]

Well Pat I think I hit paydirt

I tried my own DB but first compiled (that took some time)

The macro that I use to start, opens the forms etc, I changed to Autoexec and presto, all worked including all my Access to Word/Bookmarks.

I will uninstall MS Office 2003 and also convert a couple of the Word.docs that are used for Access to Bookmarks to RTF and see what happens.

 

[Mike375]

With MSOffice unistalled I had to problems

One was "date undefined function" and "broken reference/link to MSWORD.OLB

To get it to open I changed the Autoexec to open just one form. That form has unbound textbox with =Weekday(Date()) and that shows #Name error.

So it look likes even though it is opened with A2007 Runtime it will use Access 2003 if it is there.

Oh well, my social calendar for Christmas/New Year was not too full

 

[Mike375]

I reinstalled just Word from MSOffice and all worked perfectly from my own DB including Date().

I suppose MSWORD.OLB refers to references I have ticked.

It would appear that just installing Word also puts some other things in place. When I went to reopen the DB after reinstalling Word it wen through the process of configuring etc the A2000 Runtime.

Would installing only Excel, Word and PowerPoint from MSOffice Professional be the same as having MSOffice Standard.

As a side note, I see what you mean when there is an error. Although with a macro it stillbrough up the normal Halt box and with macro name and action.

 

[Mike375]

My own DB all worked OK when Office was completely unistalled one the references were fixed. But of course Access to Word sections don't work.

One interesting little thing I noticed in this A2007 is on a date field a little calenda logo is there to open and intert a date. Also, opening a query with a macro and the query looks more like a tabular form in appearance.

 

[jal]

jal, as to the Access licensing issue, only developers need licenses for Access. All users can use the Access runtime engine which is free for A2007 and around $600 (only one copy is needed) for A2003 if you can find it.

Thanks Pat. Honestly your comment further exposes my ignorance of Access deployment. (Partly because the IT dept at my job is striving to prevent me from deploying anything). After reading your post I went to a couple of articles, and now think I am beginning to get acquainted with some of the elements of Access deployment.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Mike,
You need to fix the reference error. You will then be able to open the database.

 

[Mike375]

Mike,
You need to fix the reference error. You will then be able to open the database.

Pat,

I did that and all is well.

I also changed my code for do Access to Word so I don't need the reference to Microsoft Word Library 11

That was a great idea you had of giving the 2007 Runtime a go.

So far there has been only one thing that has not worked in my own data base but I have not spent anytime on it yet as it is not something I am likley to be giving to anyone.

I have just been using an autoexec macro for startup. I like it a lot as it looks nice and with the 2007 queries opened look like a form. I have yet to test in the real world of putting on a computer that has MSOffice Standard and not A2003.

I wonder if there is any way of getting it to disc so someone did not have to down load it. I tried find a file that I assume they use to extract. I assume if I could get to that then I copy "Office12" and then use the file.