Package VS Runtime

[accessman2]

I have MS Access 2002 version, I create one mdb file and then put it on the sharing drive, I install Access RunTime on my client machines, they can run the mdb file on the sharing drive.

Another way,
I used Office XP Developer Edtion to create package and then install the package on my client machines, they can run the mdb file.

Here is a question,
Why do we need Office XP Developer Edition to create the package? Because we just install Access Runtime on the client machines, then they can run the mdb files.

What is advantage of creating the package?

 

[boblarson]

Creating a package will enable you to include any supporting files you need for your database to work (if you have any). I haven't used the Office packaging and deployment add-in, but I do use it for my VB apps and if it is similar, which I believe it is, it will also include any ActiveX controls that you are using in your database so that they can be registered and then users don't find that they can't do something because they don't have the ActiveX control that you did on your machine.