Can you enter data into an Access database, without Access install

[Rohan]

Hi,

We are a small business that is thinking of using Access to keep track of
our billing hours. To do this each person would regularly enter the hours
they have spent on certain jobs into an Access database. However, we are
unsure if everyone needs a version of Access on their computer, or is it
possible for only the constructor of the database to have Access and for them
to provide an executable to the other staff so that they can input data into
the database using a form. They would not need to run any queries, just input
data.

If this is possible, then we only need to buy MS Office Professional for one
person who builds the database and the rest of us can have Office Standard.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks

Rohan

 

[Van T. Dinh]

You cannot create an EXE out of a database file.

If you have Microsoft Office Developer's version (known by various names
depending on the Office version, you can legally distribute a royalty-free
runtime version of Access with your application that enables other users to
use the database for data entry / viewing. The runtime version does not
allow the user to do design changes to the database.

IIRC, there were ealier posts mentioning that Access run-time is included
with the Office Standard version but I could be wrong here.

HTH
Van T. Dinh
MVP (Access)

 

[Rohan]

Thanks for your help!

Does anyone know if the standard version of MS Office contains Access
run-time that allows data to be entered into an Access database (as mentioned
below)?

 

[TB]

You can avoid completely the individual Access licenses if you create an
application as an intranet site using ASP. The only required item on the
workstations would be an internet browser. ASP is, however, outside the
scope of this news group. If you are interested, I can show you a time sheet
application I have previosuly created in ASP / Access. That would give an
idea of the possibilities. (For the record: I am not trying sell anything
here).

You can contact me my web site (I would get spam if I posted a true email
adress): www.lacanela.com

TB

 

[Rick Brandt]

Thanks for your help!

Does anyone know if the standard version of MS Office contains Access
run-time that allows data to be entered into an Access database (as
mentioned below)?

What was mentioned was "The Developer's Version (known by various
names depending on the Office version...)", so no, the standard version does not
have this capability.

You have to spend some money and an app that is used under the runtime must be
more of a "polished" application so it will require additional work to develop
compared to an app where the user has a licensed copy of Access installed. In
my opinion you do not break even on the investment unless you need to distribute
to at least several non-licensed users. If it's only a few people you are
better off just buying Access for those machines.

 

[e3014551]

Rohan

I would reccomend you to create an Access Data Page for entering data and
then publish it as a web page. This way any one with IE can browse into the
folder where tha page is stored. Once the HTML page is open, they can fill
the data as required (you can create Dropdown boxes, ActiveX control, etc).

Also yo can set your DataBase securities to have defined users, this way
only the authorized employes can open the page (password is required)

 

[Rohan]

All these posts were very useful, thanks.

I think what we'll do is review the difference in cost and ease of
development of just buying Access for everyone with creating an intranet
application instead. We'll decide what to do from there.