Very stupid question

[Binnit]

This will sound a bit dumb but I need a catagoric answer (if there is one)

"Is it possible to run any sort of Access db on a machine or server without MSAccess being installed thereon"

My normal method of delivery is frontend MDE with a backend linked db for data storage but I need to rule out any other options.

If IT ain’t working Binnit and Reboot

 

[lynchg]

It isn't a stupid question. You can run Access on machines that do not have Access installed on them. It is done by setting up what is called a runtime version of Access. It is common is businesses that have a lot of users working with Access.

You need more than just the basic edition of Access to set this up though. You can search this forum on the word 'runtime', there should be many postings with more info. If you are going to go that route, you would need to get the proper edition of Access, and then there is a process that you go through to set up users with runtime versions.

 

[formerTexan]

Binnit,

In your context I suspect the answer is a categorical No.

However to hedge just a wee bit; it is possible to create a self-executable copy of an Access application, but that is rarely done except in circumstances where an application is going to be distributed to a mass market.

Cheers,
Bill

 

[jessedh]

We use the runtime here. You just need to make sure that everything is accessible from the switchboard / startup form b/c the user will have no access to the backend tables/queries/etc...

Also, don't deploy it over a slow WAN w/links to a main datasoure. It will run like crap. I learned this the hard way.

If it is relatively simple you might try porting it to .Net 2.0. It is pretty simple and for data viewing and editing is much more efficent that deploying an Access db across to multiple users.

 

[Binnit]

OK... this is sort of what I had picked up from others but was not sure how it was done.

lynchg
We have a full version of Office 2003 Pro, is this sufficient to create a runtime version? how can I tell?

formertexan
In the absence of our ability to use lynchg suggestion I will consider anything!

Thanks for your comments

If IT ain’t working Binnit and Reboot

 

[jessedh]

You can just download the runtime from Microsoft's website.

You can just open the mdb with that, but not see any of the 'guts' behind it.

 

[Binnit]

jessedh
Let me get this straight...
1) I create an MDE of my db front end
2) I send it to another location for a machine that does not have Access installed
3) the other location downloads the runtime version from MS website
4) my MDB will run?

Is it that simple?

If IT ain’t working Binnit and Reboot

 

[Binnit]

Having just browsed through the MS site, it would appear that I need the Developers extensions to do this properly.

Unless anyone knows different!
Thanks for your suggesttions, guess I will need to get the wallet out again.


If IT ain’t working Binnit and Reboot

 

[jessedh]

I guarantee you that you don't (at least with access 2000). Try it out on your local machine.

Make a database in a full version of access with a simple switchboard to open a table. close it.

Install and thenOpen the access runtime. Goto File-->Open and select your mdb. It will work. The package and deploy manager just creates an install package.

 

[db96s1]

you need to purchase, google 'microsoft visual studio tools for the microsoft office system'. this includes the installer and runtime with your mde file.

db96s1