Snapshot Viewer, Where does a user get it now?

[Toga]

We are still using Access 97 in our manufacturing environment. Reports that are generated are provided to our customers using the Snapshot format.

I recently learned that our customers can no longer download the snap shot viewer.....in fact, this is the message they get at

http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/9798/snpvw80.aspx

"Report Snapshots and Snapshot Viewer for Access 97
This previously available download, Report Snapshots and Snapshot Viewer for Access 97, has been removed. We apologize for any inconvenience. However, you can find downloads and updates for all of your Office products on these sites:" Then they list the Microsoft Office Download Center and your right back where you started from and still can't download this viewer.

I was going to just tell our customers to let us know and we'll send them a copy but then I found this statement about Free-For-Download Software.

"Microsoft makes available, free-for-download via the Internet, a number of its products and software deliverables, including portions of its software and/or system files (herein "Software&quot. Although you are free to download and use the Software, you are not free to reproduce and redistribute the Software. Please read the End User License Agreement (EULA) accompanying the Software to determine your redistribution rights. If you are not expressly granted the right to redistribute the Software under an accompanying EULA, redistribution of the Software is not permissible. You are free to point your end users to the Microsoft download location so they may download the Software, if available, directly from Microsoft. Please see our linking guidelines at:

http://www.microsoft.com/permission/copyrgt/cop-img.htm#LinkTo

if you wish to include our URL on your web site."

Is there another site this can be legally downloaded? I know Microsoft would love all businesses to upgrade their software....but that's beyond my control....especially when it comes to what software versions our customers are using. I just can't believe that Microsoft would deny access to a viewer. What are we supposed to do?

Does anyone know how to effectively complain to Microsoft and actually get a response?????

 

[thepope77]

Have you tried outputting the reports into .pdf format? Most people have access to Adobe Acrobat if they don't have .snp. Just a suggestion. Don't know how practical it is for your app.

HTH. Daniel Pope

 

[psemianonymous]

Check this newsgroup post, dated....yesterday, of all things.

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=c%ZZa.2927$CN.1777@nwrddc03.gnilink.net

Apparently it's only temporarily unavailable, though you may not want to bet on that fact.

 

[Toga]

Thanks for your replies...

thepope77 - I'd love to output the reports into a pdf format but I'm not sure I can do that from within my Access application.... not without introducing several addtional steps and buying the pdf writer for each work station that would be creating these reports. If there is a way...please let me know.

foolio12 - Thanks for the info.... You would have thought that Microsoft would have indicated that this was temporary vs just saying the download had been removed. Anyways, hopefully enough people will question this nonsensical move by Microsoft so they realize that people still need access to this program.

 

[thepope77]

Toga:

There is a program called pdf995 that works pretty well. You can use it for free but their website pops up when you use it if it is not registered. However, if you want to buy it, it is only ~$20. If you have 25 or more users, they say they offer a group license. Just type pdf995 into Google.

Hope this helps.

 

[Toga]

Thanks thepope77.....I'll look into it.

 

[Toga]

thepope77 - I looked at it but it still looks like I would have to create the pdf and then manually attach it to my email.

The beauty of the snapshot viwer is that, from my Access application, a user can create an email with my report automatically attached....one click of the button, and then just send it.

Access will support xls, text, HTML, RTF & Snapshpt format in their SendObject code.

DoCmd.SendObject [objecttype][, objectname][, outputformat][, to][, cc][, bcc][, subject][, messagetext][, editmessage][, templatefile]

Are you saying that this pdf995 will work if you embed it in this code as well?

 

[thepope77]

Toga:

Try this link. It may help you out. I haven't personally done this. I only know that it can be done.

http://p2p.wrox.com/archive/access/2003-01/55.asp

HTH

 

[gilbil]

hi toga,
did you manage this problem?
I'm having same problem here.
gil

 

[PaulF]

see this thread, I downloaded it a few minutes ago.

thread703-622730

PaulF

 

[Toga]

gil - Yes, I solved the problem this week. In the EULA that display when you go to install the Snapshot Viewer, the following is displayed in the Grant of License section.....

1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This EULA grants you the following rights:
* Installation and Use. You may install and use an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
* Reproduction and Distribution. You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT; provided that each copy shall be a true and complete copy, including all copyright and trademark notices, and shall be accompanied by a copy of this EULA. Copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may be distributed as a standalone product or included with your own product.

Considering Microsoft gives permission to distribute the software as long as you don't alter it in any way, I had our IS&S group post it to our internet server. Now when we send a report to a customer, I point them to a link on our server to download the Snapshot Viewer. Now I don't have to worry about some other organization deciding to remove it without my knowing it.....at least until customers start calling and none of us can afford that these days. If you do not have access to your own server, the thread PaulF will also work. I tried it too and it works....until they decide to remove it one day!

I still can't believe Microsoft just arbitrarily decided to remove this Viewer as there's got to be alot of programs out there still written in Access 97.

 

[Toga]

thepope77 - Thank for your reply above. I've solved the problem I was having for now, but I definitely will be trying to create a pdf with new reports per the link you gave me.

That would be great if it works because pdf's are the clear standard that Cross-Organization / Company users are going to feel the most comfortable with. I just don't want to change my existing report formats mid-stream if I don't have to.

Thanks to evryone for your responses!

 

[gilbil]

Hi all,
I have the file with the viewer and it did work for some of my customers, however i'm still waiting for some more results that I hope will b good - if not, and ONLY if not - i'll change it to pdf - I just don't like the acrobat reader (don't ask me why) but for now I'm optimistic about the viewer v9.0 that they install.
good luck to you all
Gil