Change Access datatbase into a self-sufficient program

[Andrew]

What is the easiest method to change an Access database
into a self-sufficient program that anyone can open
without having Access. What software do you need to
develop such a program?

 

[Kevin3NF]

Office Developer's Edition...allows you to create an installable package
including a run-time version of Access.

--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm

 

[John Vinson]

What is the easiest method to change an Access database
into a self-sufficient program that anyone can open
without having Access. What software do you need to
develop such a program?

There is no method to do so. Access simply does not provide this
capability.

The two options I'd suggest are purchasing the Office Developers'
Edition for your version of Access; this doesn't let you compile a
..mdb into a program, but it does allow you to create a royalty-free
"runtime" version of Access which can be installed on computers which
don't have retail Access, enabling them to use your database (but not
to make any design changes to it).

Or, you can use the .mdb file simply as a container for tables, and
write your own custom application in Visual Basic - roughly twice the
programming effort of designing the same application in Access, but
certainly doable. You probably will not be able to salvage much other
than the layout design from your Access Forms and Reports.

 

[TC]

What is the easiest method to change an Access database
into a self-sufficient program that anyone can open
without having Access. What software do you need to
develop such a program?

As the others have said: no can do.

By far< the easiest approach, is to require each of your users to have a

working copy of MS Access on their PC.

HTH,
TC

 

[TC]

Yes, I do agree.

I made the decision to require a working copy of Access, before I
distributed my main product for the first time. I felt unsure as to whether
that was the right decision. But so far, no-one has turned a hair, to the
best of my knowledge. (crosses fingers, wipes brow ...)

TC

 

[Kevin3NF]

Nice solution, but can get sort of pricey when you compare the cost of
Access to the cost of ODE.

--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm

 

[John Vinson]

Nice solution, but can get sort of pricey when you compare the cost of
Access to the cost of ODE.

Depends on how many users of course! Checking Amazon:

Office Pro (includes Word, Excel, etc.) $189 - let's say $60 of that
is the added cost for Access

ODE - $499.

So about nine users would be breakeven at that price.

 

[Kevin3NF]

Or, at Amazon you pay $199 for Access by itself, since your users already
have Office Standard....

Any number of factors that can go into the decision......

--
Kevin Hill
President
3NF Consulting

www.3nf-inc.com/NewsGroups.htm