Wanting to purchase Access 2003- can anyone give me info?

[Guest]

Hi.
I have been using Access 2000 and need to upgrade as I believe the Access
2003 gives one more options, the opetions I am needing are for my Databases
to become stand alone projects. I am not a programmer and know very little
VB so am I on the right track? If so could you explain how it would work. I
have a fair knowlege of Databases.

Thanks.
J

 

[Van T. Dinh]

Access databases (MDB format) or Access Projects (ADP format) always need
Microsoft Access software to run!

If you want to deploy Access databases where users don't have Access
software installed, you need Access Developer Edition to create an
installation package and this installation package set-up the Access
run-time files on the target PCs so that your users can use your databases.

IIRC, the 2000 version is called Mocrosoft Office 2000 Developer edition and
for 2003, it is called Access Developer Extension which is part of the
Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003

 

[Guest]

Hi Jules,

How are you defining stand alone projects? You can distribute Access
runtimes, but these still require that Access be installed on the target
PC's. If you have the Developer's edition (Access 2000), or the "Microsoft
Office Access 2003 Developer Extensions" (for Access 2003), then you have a
royalty free license to distribute the necessary files.

Microsoft Access (Office) Developer Edition Versions
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/developereditionversions.htm


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

You have some good responses here.

Just to be clear on things, a2003 does not give you any more (or less)
options in terms of distribution.

So, upgrading to a2003 will NOT give you this distribution ability. a2003 is
much same as a2000 (with of course a number of new features added over the
years, but none that pertain to the runtime, or royalty free distribution).

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your response, yes the need for users to be able to use my
Databases without Access on their machines is a big problem I have. I
understand by what was said that I need the Developers Version, would I go
with the 2000 ver or the 2003 version? Does the Royalities come with the
2000 version? If not and I have to purchase the 2003 ver then will it be
compatable with my normal 2000 version? I am sorry if I seem a bit dumb about
this but I need to be sure as I know the 2003 Developers version is quite a
price.
Again thank you for your help.

 

[Van T. Dinh]

* If you have the Developer's version, you can distribute the Access
runtimes loyalty-free with your Access database application whether Access
2000 or 2003.

* Since the main-stream support for Access 2000 has ended, I would go with
Access 2003. Also in my experience, Access 2003 is a lot more stable than
Access 2000. Besides, you probably won't find a legal copy of the Access /
Office 2000 Developer's edition easily.

* The default file format for Access 2003 software is actually Access 2000
file format so you shouldn't have any problem running your database
application using Access 2003 software (full version or runtime version).
If you want to convert your database file to MDE format (with the canonical
text component of the code removed - or hidden???), you need to convert the
database to A2002-A2003 format before converting to MDE format. However,
Access software has a Menu command that does this for you without hassles in
most cases.

 

[Guest]

Thank you! That has answered all my questions.
J

* If you have the Developer's version, you can distribute the Access
runtimes loyalty-free with your Access database application whether Access
2000 or 2003.

* Since the main-stream support for Access 2000 has ended, I would go with
Access 2003. Also in my experience, Access 2003 is a lot more stable than
Access 2000. Besides, you probably won't find a legal copy of the Access /
Office 2000 Developer's edition easily.

* The default file format for Access 2003 software is actually Access 2000
file format so you shouldn't have any problem running your database
application using Access 2003 software (full version or runtime version).
If you want to convert your database file to MDE format (with the canonical
text component of the code removed - or hidden???), you need to convert the
database to A2002-A2003 format before converting to MDE format. However,
Access software has a Menu command that does this for you without hassles in
most cases.