The Office XP Developer Edition includes Runtime Support so that the
application can be run by users who do not have Access 2002 installed. Be
aware that, if done properly, this can work very well without significant
problems; if not done properly, it can be problematical. There _are_
limitations when using the runtime.
Installing the Access 2000 runtime could break existing Access 97
applications. I am not certain if that was fixed with any of the Service
Releases or in Access 2002. Before I let anyone install a later version of
the runtime support on a machine of mine that had useful Access 97
applications, I'd make certain sure by installing A97 and those applications
on another machine using the same OS, and trying it out. If I'd told the
developer that I wanted an application for Access 97, I wouldn't accept one
that required a different version even if it came with the runtime.
I guess I would just have one question... only as a matter of interest,
because I'm certainly not a lawyer and I don't have any idea what might be
involved in pursuing a legal solution. That question would be: you said you
had told the developer that you had Access 97 installed, but did anyone say
anything about Access 2002 or the Access 2002 runtime support?
Did your contract with this developer call for him to deliver "source code"?
An .MDE is not source code -- none of the code, forms, or reports can be
opened in design view and changed. If you are to get the source, so you can
maintain it in the future, either yourself or by hiring some other
contractor, be sure you get the .MDB. If your contract allowed the developer
to deliver an .MDE, you are in the proverbial pickle because no one else
will be able to fix or enhance what you have -- you'll have to go back to
him.
It is always (can I repeat for emphasis, shouting? ALWAYS) a good idea to
have a contract, drawn up by your attorney, for computer work done "out of
house". In fact, it is _folly_ not to have one.
Larry Linson
"Ralph2" <no*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ve********************************@4ax.com...
Hello
Some time ago with the help of this group I made an amateurish
database that catalogs all of our shop drawings. Works really well ( I
think) but management, in its infinite wisdom, wants a "professional"
database.
So, they have contracted out a local programmer and his first "beta"
will not run.. He coded the *.mde in Access 2002 (in spite of being
informed that we have A97). Now he wants to run an installer that will
allow us to run it??????????
Not quite sure what he means by this..........? Surely he is not going
to install Access 2002. I understand that "if" one has the developer
version of MS Access one can create a application that will run
without the program Access installed. But... I have also read (here I
think) that there are potential problems. i.e. databases that work
with A97 "may" not work after this installer is installed.
Anyone able to comment on any apprehensions I should have?
Thanks
Ralph