Access 2003 licensing

[Wendy]

I have 6 computers; 3 at my office in different rooms and serving different
purposes (sole proprietorship) but keeping a copy of the same two Access
databases; and 3 (including a laptop for travel) in 2 houses. These 3
computers house the same databases as those in the office so that when I need
to look up client information, I have it available. I had been running
Access 97 for a number of years until the newer computers, with the larger
memory, started running into problems. While I did get the Jet pack updated,
I began to be concerned there might be other problems lurking so sought an
upgrade copy of Access 2003. Now I find that I can only "register" it on
two computers. Since these computers are all for my own personal use, is
there a way around this particular problem?

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Wendy.

While I did get the Jet pack updated,
I began to be concerned there might be other problems lurking so sought an
upgrade copy of Access 2003.

If it ain't broke, why fix it? Access 97 was very stable once the two
service releases and Jet updates were installed.

Since these computers are all for my own personal use, is
there a way around this particular problem?

Sorry. It doesn't work that way. One license for Access per computer
(whether it's for business, academic, non-profit, or personal use), unless
the EULA states otherwise. However, if you don't need to do Access
development work on the other computers, you can get the Access Runtime
version to run the already developed Access databases. The Access 2007
Runtime is a free download, and the Access 2003 Runtime comes with the
Access Developer Extensions, which is part of many packages (although not
all) of Visual Studio Tools for Microsoft Office (VSTO) 2003 and 2005. The
Access 2003 Runtime purchased with VSTO comes with an unlimited license to
install it on as many computers as you need to, although VSTO itself is
rather expensive (US$799 last time I checked).

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Wendy.

You can download the Access 2007 Runtime for free from the following Web
page:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d9-9dc6-4b38-9fa6-2c745a175aed&DisplayLang=en

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Wendy]

THANKS!. Now, does the runtime allow for updates to the data directly to the
database?? or can the updates only be made to the copy which is the
full-license. I don't mean development or design changes..... just changes
to the data. E.g., if I am at my 2nd house I might get a call from a client
which needs to then be updated in the database. In the past this was no big
deal, and I then updated the database file on the other computers using
jump/flash drive.

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Wendy.

Now, does the runtime allow for updates to the data directly to the
database??

Yes. The Access Runtime is intended for users who only do data entry, look
up data, and run queries and reports. Users won't be able to create new
queries or tables or other objects, nor alter the current ones, but you can
do that with your retail version of Access 2003 should you need to and let
the Access 2007 Runtime open those databases on the other computers.

Be advised that Access 2007 has a number of changes and not everything works
quite the same in Access 2007 as it did in Access 2003, so it's possible
that you would need to purchase at least one copy of the Access 2007 retail
version to make changes for the Access 2007 Runtime to be able to run the
Access 2003 databases the way you want them to. However, since it's a free
download, it wouldn't hurt to download and test the Access 2007 Runtime on
one computer and see how your current databases run on it. Just ensure that
you back up the system beforehand so that you can restore it to its present
state should you decide later that the Access 2007 Runtime isn't for you.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Pat Hartman \(MVP\)]

The runtime is intended to be used to "run" the application rather than
"develop" the application. Running an application involves working with
data in forms and reports. The runtime engine will not allow ANY access to
design tools so you cannot view any code or switch to design view for any
objects. You can only "open" them and modify data. That means that to use
the runtime, you need to have significant error trapping because unhandled
errors will cause Access to abruptly close and since the menus are largely
unavailable, you will need to create custom menus.

If your business does development work, you might be eligible to purchase
the Action Pack. Look for this on the MS web site. It is a real bargain
and gives you about $25,000 worth of software for $300-400 dollars per year
but it is ONLY available to developers and is intended to give them the
opportunity to work with Microsoft products so they can become familiar with
them and recommend them to their clients. With the Action pack, you lease
the software rather than purchase it so if you let your subscription lapse,
you are supposed to delete all instances of installed products. The nice
thing is that you get 10 licenses for all the desktop products such as
Office and PowerPoint, etc. along with 1 copy of most of the common server
products.

 

[Wendy]

Have to admit to ignorance..... how do I get to, or open, the runtime utility
once it's installed. How do I get the database to "couple up with" the
runtime? I'm testing this on the 3rd computer which already has Access 2003
installed but not registered so that's the version which always opens up when
I try to open my MDB file.

 

[Pieter Wijnen]

<path to msaccess.exe> <path to mdb> [<any switches>]

ie
"C:\Program Files\Office12\MsAccess.exe" "C:\MyDb\MyDb.mdb"

hth

Pieter

 

[Wendy]

One additional question.... Access 2003 Runtime. Since I have the retail
version of Access 2003... is the Runtime for 2003 readily found and
installable from the retail version?

<path to msaccess.exe> <path to mdb> [<any switches>]

ie
"C:\Program Files\Office12\MsAccess.exe" "C:\MyDb\MyDb.mdb"

hth

Pieter

Have to admit to ignorance..... how do I get to, or open, the runtime
utility
once it's installed. How do I get the database to "couple up with" the
runtime? I'm testing this on the 3rd computer which already has Access
2003
installed but not registered so that's the version which always opens up
when
I try to open my MDB file.

 

[Pieter Wijnen]

Nope, It's a separate Product
The good(?) news is that the 2007 runtime is for free.

Pieter

One additional question.... Access 2003 Runtime. Since I have the
retail
version of Access 2003... is the Runtime for 2003 readily found and
installable from the retail version?

<path to msaccess.exe> <path to mdb> [<any switches>]

ie
"C:\Program Files\Office12\MsAccess.exe" "C:\MyDb\MyDb.mdb"

hth

Pieter

Have to admit to ignorance..... how do I get to, or open, the runtime
utility
once it's installed. How do I get the database to "couple up with"
the
runtime? I'm testing this on the 3rd computer which already has
Access
2003
installed but not registered so that's the version which always opens
up
when
I try to open my MDB file.

:

The runtime is intended to be used to "run" the application rather
than
"develop" the application. Running an application involves working
with
data in forms and reports. The runtime engine will not allow ANY
access
to
design tools so you cannot view any code or switch to design view for
any
objects. You can only "open" them and modify data. That means that
to
use
the runtime, you need to have significant error trapping because
unhandled
errors will cause Access to abruptly close and since the menus are
largely
unavailable, you will need to create custom menus.

If your business does development work, you might be eligible to
purchase
the Action Pack. Look for this on the MS web site. It is a real
bargain
and gives you about $25,000 worth of software for $300-400 dollars per
year
but it is ONLY available to developers and is intended to give them
the
opportunity to work with Microsoft products so they can become
familiar
with
them and recommend them to their clients. With the Action pack, you
lease
the software rather than purchase it so if you let your subscription
lapse,
you are supposed to delete all instances of installed products. The
nice
thing is that you get 10 licenses for all the desktop products such as
Office and PowerPoint, etc. along with 1 copy of most of the common
server
products.

THANKS!. Now, does the runtime allow for updates to the data
directly
to
the
database?? or can the updates only be made to the copy which is the
full-license. I don't mean development or design changes..... just
changes
to the data. E.g., if I am at my 2nd house I might get a call from
a
client
which needs to then be updated in the database. In the past this
was
no
big
deal, and I then updated the database file on the other computers
using
jump/flash drive.



:

Hi, Wendy.

You can download the Access 2007 Runtime for free from the
following
Web
page:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d9-9dc6-4b38-9fa6-2c745a175aed&DisplayLang=en

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and
tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for
contact
info.

 

[Wendy]

My main concern is that when I copy my 2003 database (actually it's designed
in 97 and now "converted" to 2003) to the machines running the free 2007
Runtime, I have to go through these warnings of either security, or do you
really really want to convert the database to 2007 cuz you can't use it with
2003 or older once you do, etc. While I can handle this myself.... those
in the office who will use the database would not know what to do. This
then requires ME to personally copy the database from computer to computer.
In one case, I'm networking the two desktop computers so that's not a big
deal. The 3rd one is an older laptop which is just for convenient lookup of
information.

Thanks for all your help!

Nope, It's a separate Product
The good(?) news is that the 2007 runtime is for free.

Pieter

One additional question.... Access 2003 Runtime. Since I have the
retail
version of Access 2003... is the Runtime for 2003 readily found and
installable from the retail version?

<path to msaccess.exe> <path to mdb> [<any switches>]

ie
"C:\Program Files\Office12\MsAccess.exe" "C:\MyDb\MyDb.mdb"

hth

Pieter

Have to admit to ignorance..... how do I get to, or open, the runtime
utility
once it's installed. How do I get the database to "couple up with"
the
runtime? I'm testing this on the 3rd computer which already has
Access
2003
installed but not registered so that's the version which always opens
up
when
I try to open my MDB file.

:

The runtime is intended to be used to "run" the application rather
than
"develop" the application. Running an application involves working
with
data in forms and reports. The runtime engine will not allow ANY
access
to
design tools so you cannot view any code or switch to design view for
any
objects. You can only "open" them and modify data. That means that
to
use
the runtime, you need to have significant error trapping because
unhandled
errors will cause Access to abruptly close and since the menus are
largely
unavailable, you will need to create custom menus.

If your business does development work, you might be eligible to
purchase
the Action Pack. Look for this on the MS web site. It is a real
bargain
and gives you about $25,000 worth of software for $300-400 dollars per
year
but it is ONLY available to developers and is intended to give them
the
opportunity to work with Microsoft products so they can become
familiar
with
them and recommend them to their clients. With the Action pack, you
lease
the software rather than purchase it so if you let your subscription
lapse,
you are supposed to delete all instances of installed products. The
nice
thing is that you get 10 licenses for all the desktop products such as
Office and PowerPoint, etc. along with 1 copy of most of the common
server
products.

THANKS!. Now, does the runtime allow for updates to the data
directly
to
the
database?? or can the updates only be made to the copy which is the
full-license. I don't mean development or design changes..... just
changes
to the data. E.g., if I am at my 2nd house I might get a call from
a
client
which needs to then be updated in the database. In the past this
was
no
big
deal, and I then updated the database file on the other computers
using
jump/flash drive.



:

Hi, Wendy.

You can download the Access 2007 Runtime for free from the
following
Web
page:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d9-9dc6-4b38-9fa6-2c745a175aed&DisplayLang=en

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and
tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for
contact
info.