Next Step beyond Access

[David]

I have posted this message in .net group as well. But I wanted to get some
other opinions.

I have learned a great deal from this group in creating applications in
Access 2002 with Visual Basic code. I'm not a MVP.... yet.... but I'm still
dreaming.

What is the next step to create applications that can be used as a more
stand-alone app or possibly with a web front end?
There seems to be many choices from Visual Basic Studio and .net framework.
Eventually, I would want to be able to create a CD for user's to install the
stand alone application I created.
I learned Access from reading the 3,000 pages of Access Developer's Handbook
and the assistance of this fine user group, so I'm not looking for a quick
but limited solution... on the other hand, I don't want to spend $5,000 on
something either.

 

[Steve Schapel]

David,

If you want a web frontend, you are not talking Access. Maybe ASP.Net.

But if you are talking desktop functionality, Access is a good choice
for me. I have a couple of "shrink-wrap" applications that I distribute
on CD (or via download), with an Access Runtime installation. There are
plenty of examples of very successful applications out there based on
this concept.

 

[rkc]

I learned Access from reading the 3,000 pages of Access Developer's Handbook
and the assistance of this fine user group, so I'm not looking for a quick
but limited solution... on the other hand, I don't want to spend $5,000 on
something either.

If you're needs at the moment are platforms to learn .net you can't
beat the VS Express editions.

http://blogs.msdn.com/danielfe/archive/2005/11/07/489897.aspx

On the other hand, web development can be done with a text editor
and freely available technologies like css, html, javascript, php,
asp, the xmlHttpRequest object etc.