When's the next Access Release

[RangerTen]

Anyone have a clue as to when the next version of MS Access will be shipping (year/quarter)? Will everything be converted over to vba.net and will I have to learn a completely new programming language to run it? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

 

[Fizzio]

Office 2003 is currently in beta release so it may make it onto the shelf sometime this year. I doubt everything will be converted just to .net and I'm sure there will be bacwards compatibility, Similar to ADO / DAO.

 

[mission2java_78]

Just when you thought you learned office 2k2 (xp)..they come out with 2k3...

software is ridiculiious. They dont give you enough time to learn one thing.

Jon

 

[Rich]

It's called progress Jon and has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft keeping its multibillion dollar market value

 

[mission2java_78]

It's called progress Jon and has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft keeping its multibillion dollar market value

Hehehe..I'm susceptiable to change (or however you spell that word)

Jon

 

[Fizzio]

Apparently, 2003 is not a 'facelift' of 2000 (as xp was) but a completely new build and allegedly more stable (even in beta). I'd like Pat's comments on it on whether we should upgrade or not.

 

[RangerTen]

So I pay 200-300 $$ for the upgrade and then they release Office 2004 six months later. I can't keep up, technology or funding!

Wonder what the release is for the next version after 2003...

I'm afraid to develop anything now as I imagine the upgrade to vba.net will not be pretty...I'll have to redevelop my stuff...yet again.

 

[Fizzio]

That's a fairly impressive list. Will you be automatically upgraded to 2003 when it is released or are the 'upgrades' the service packs etc?

 

[Cosmos75]

I think I've found the answer to the upgrade issue. I recently signed up for what Microsoft is calling the Action pack subscription. It costs $299 the first year and I think $199 for subsequent years. It comes with an amazing list of software and you get 4 updates mailed each year. The initial shipment includes a very nice carrying case for all the cd's.

1. Win XP Pro (5 licenses)
2. SQL Server 2000 (1 License)
3. Outlook XP (5 lic)
4. Project XP (5 lic)
5. Publisher XP (5 lic)
6. FrontPage XP (5 lic)
7. Visio Enterprise XP (5 lic)
8. Small Bus Server 2000 (1 server license, 5 client licenses)
9 MapPoint XP (5 lic)
10. Ms Windows Server 2003, Enterprise (1 server license)
11. Mobile Information Server XP (1 license)
12. Microsoft Sharepoint server 2001 (1 license)
plus several other server apps.
13. opps, left out Office XP Pro (5 lic)

You also get a bunch of cd's containing white papers and sales pitches you can use for selling MS products.

Who is this available to??

 

[Cosmos75]

Never Mind... Found it.


Eligibility
Who can subscribe to the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription?
The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription is restricted to resellers, consultants, value-added resellers, value-added providers, system integrators, developers, system builders, hosts, service providers, and IT professionals who sell Microsoft products or provide solutions based on Microsoft products and technologies to third-party customers.

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/salesmarketing/partnermarket/actionpack/Overview.aspx

 

[mission2java_78]

Never Mind... Found it.


Eligibility
Who can subscribe to the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription?
The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription is restricted to resellers, consultants, value-added resellers, value-added providers, system integrators, developers, system builders, hosts, service providers, and IT professionals who sell Microsoft products or provide solutions based on Microsoft products and technologies to third-party customers.

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/salesmarketing/partnermarket/actionpack/Overview.aspx

You're a developer aren't you?

Jon

 

[Cosmos75]

Not sure I'd call myself a developer. I have created some databases some databases at work for some clients. Mostly tracking material usage, calculating emissions based on either mass-balance or using emission factors and generating reports of usage/emissions.

I only know how to use Access (No SQL stuff), still learning, know some basic VBA. No certification or anything like that. So I don't think the term developer applies to me.

But I was wanting something to use at home. To try out some ideas, develop some database that I think could be usefull. and have the capability to deploy runtime versions of my databases.

I don't have ANY version of MS Office at home!!

(Maybe I have a copy of Office 95 in a storage box somewhere left over from college.... )

 

[mission2java_78]

You dont need any fancy smancy certificates to develop. I know many people without them that are just as good as those who do have certs.

I'd say from what you've said you should be eligible to receive the package that was posted.

I hate the whole point of licensing fees. If you ask me I feel the whole software industry is a crock of....well you know.

Jon

 

[Cosmos75]

Wonder if Pat might have any insight into the definition of a Developer or Microsoft's definition of a developer? (Two different things?)

QUESTION: Does anybody else have a subscription to the Action Pack?

 

[Cosmos75]

More info regarding the Action Pack subscription.

"When does my Microsoft Action Pack subscription end?
The term of the subscription is one year from the date you purchase the subscription. Prior to your expiration date you will be sent a detailed e-mail renewal notice that allows you to take advantage of another year of great benefits."

From Microsoft Action Pack Subscription—Standard (License Agreement)

4. Subscription Term and Termination. The term of this Subscription is one (1) year from the date you purchase the Subscription. It is important that you maintain properly licensed Microsoft products. You agree that Microsoft may terminate this Agreement, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies, at any time without prior written notice to you in the event that you:

(a) ...

(d) Upon expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, you agree to immediately cease use of and to destroy all copies of any Microsoft Products provided with or licensed under the Subscription, including but not limited to, all Not for Retail Distribution software media and all Microsoft Action Pack Subscription Product License copies.

"How can I use the software provided in the subscription?
The software included with the subscription can be used for internal business use, testing, evaluation, demonstration, training, and educational purposes only. For example, you can use the Action Pack software to host your company's Intranet but it CANNOT be used to host a commercial Web site. This is considered a production environment that is outside the scope of the software's intended purpose."

 

[mission2java_78]

Another bit of info regardign the Action Pack subscription.

"This is an annual subscription that includes a Welcome Kit and three quarterly updates. You must remove the software from the computer at the end of the subscription period (one year) unless you renew the subscription or purchase valid product licenses. "

HAHA thats just ridiculious.

 

[mission2java_78]

Another bit of info regardign the Action Pack subscription.

"This is an annual subscription that includes a Welcome Kit and three quarterly updates. You must remove the software from the computer at the end of the subscription period (one year) unless you renew the subscription or purchase valid product licenses. "

Microsoft reminds me of a company by the name of Progress.

www.progress.com (if i remember correctly)

Both companies are money making trolls who have strict guidelines to purchasing software and development. Makes me want to puke if you read the fine print in any of their stuff.

A long time ago...we had 2 guys from Progress come in to estimate an application that our business guys wanted. They wanted 30-50k just to learn our process....hahha..like we'd ever dish out money to a company that just wanted to learn our process . I took on that role since I already knew the process and am writing it in VB and SQL Server. It might not be as robust as the Progress RDBMS (which claims to be biting on the SAP guys), but it sure saves a lot of money. If they wanted 30-50k just to learn the process, could you imagine what these guys would charge to develop? Or better yet to support.

Jon

 

[Cosmos75]

I geuss that's why Pat Hartman said

I'm not going to make any suggestions regarding what you and your friends might do with any excess licenses because even though these are full retail versions, they are intended to be used in a "development" environment rather than a "production" evironment.

I case the quotes that you see in mission2java_78's posts don't make sense, I edited my post but not in time before mission2java_78 wanted to quote it!


Hey, Pat. How do you use them?

 

[Cosmos75]

I frequently work from home and have several PC's that need software.

A-HA!! Does that fall under "development" environment rather than a "production" evironment and/or "internal business use, testing, evaluation, demonstration, training, and educational purposes only"??

 

[mission2java_78]

Whose Jave

I agree with you somewhat Pat. But I dont agree with every year a new version come out and you need to buy new licenses and so on. Too much money is lost just in licensing software for client machines. Don't tell me MS isn't making money..for heavens sakes their employees who have stock worked for 1 measely year and retired as millionaires. There is plenty of money going around there.

Jon