The answer to your question depends on the version of Access that you are using. If you are using Access 2003 or earlier you would create a .mde file. If you are using Access 2007 or later you will need to create a .accde file.
Both of these files are the same type of file but just named different per the version.
i create accde file from my database in access 2007 so this is enough for security i want to create a file like exe file in vb.net etc to protect my database from changing: Mr B
Users working with mde/accde files cannot make changes to the design of the database. They are prevented from entering the Design Views or Code Modules.
Guys,
When you save an accdb file and create an accde type file must Microsoft Access be installed on another computer needing to use the accde file? If so it there some way to create a file that can be run on a computer that does not have MS Access?
You do not have to have the full version of Access installed on the other computers, but you must have the "runtime" version. If you are using Access 2007 then you need to download the free Access 2007 runtime version from here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=4438
Although the .accde and .mde give you some protection in that they remove all the source code from your form/report/modules and prevent those objects from opening in design view, the format does NOTHING to prevent people from modifying tables/queries/macros.
If security is really a hot button issue for you you'd probably be better off doing your database with VB, VB.Net or C++ front end with a SQL Server or Oracle back end.
You can create an EXE file which gives total protection to your code/design
You can distribute the db to PCs without a copy of Access being on board
Your data security is far, far better than anything you can do in Access
But this involves a very large amount of work, compared to using Access. Access' main strength has always been its ability to allow one to rapidly develop a database.
It really comes down to exactly what and whom you're worried about. If you're worried about a user simply getting 'behind the scenes' vis a vis your Forms, Reports, etc, and accidentally changing something mde/accde will probably do the trick, but if you're worried about intentional sabotage it's simply not up to the task.