Version Differences and Royalty Free Distribution

[joe789]

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know what is includded in the Developer's version of Access that is not includded in the regular version? Also, does access have some sort of royalty free version of the program that people can use for free to use access databases but would not be allowed to create/edit access files ... somewhat similar to a .ppt viewer? I am wondering about this since some people don't have access, if they would be able to somehow us a program created in access for free but wouldn't be able to create new access files.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[boblarson]

Answer from Pat Hartman from a previous post:

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53442&highlight=Runtime

Access databases REQUIRE either the retail (full) or runtime version of Access to be installed to run the application. If you want to distribute your app to users who will not have the retail version installed. you must PURCHASE the developer's edition which will give you a license to distribute unlimited copies of the Access runtime along with your application. The developer's edition also contains a number of activeX controls, the packaging and deployment wizard, and other stuff. It is pricey however.

The viewer used to view a PowerPoint show and the viewer used to view .pdf files both provide a VIEW ONLY environment. That type of viewer does not make sense for a database application.

 

[realbombadil]

Just to add to the confusion . . .

In the new version of Office, (2003), there is no developers edition. Thus no royality free runtime license. With the new product, you will need to buy an additional Product from the Visual Applications line of products to get the additional bells and whistles to create the runtime installations of Access.

However, it seems that most users are not aware that the runtime is included in the Office 2000 and 2002 Profressional packages. MS did a good job of hiding it and there is no reference to it within the Installation CD's, but it is there.

It is under \FILES\MOD\ACCESSRT.MSI on the CD, but it needs other .MSI located on the CD to be able to install it properly on a computer that does not have OFFICE or ACCESS already installed on it. Just running it from the \FILES\MOD path on the CD will not work on a non-office system.

At the recent Office 2003 launch I attended last week, a Microsoft Rep told me it was legal to use this Runtime installation for any ACCESS database I created on as many systems as I wanted, as long as I could figure out how to get all the appropriate files in the same place. He pointed out however, that certain ActiveX controls, the automatica setup tools, etc., were not available using this method, so it would be up to me to get this right.

In Office 2003, this same runtime is on the Profressional version, but is still lacking the extra bells and whistles files found in the old development kit. If anyone wants those additional tools, they will have to buy the optional Visual Developers Kit.

Just wanted to mention this so as to add to all the confusion.