Access 2010 Runtime & Link Manager

Question

Hello:

All my previous client computers have used a full licensed copy of Access 2010, so I have never installed the run time version before to deploy an application.  A new client does not have a license for Access 2010, so I need to install the run time version of Access 2010 32-bit along with Service Pack 2 (KB2687444) on their computers.

I have split the data and user interface.  The data is in an ACCDB format (tables only) and the user interface is an ACCDE.  I will be distributing the application to 5 different locations.

Here are my two questions:

(1) Can a user without a full Access license use the run time to execute an ACCDE run time version of the application that will read the ACCDB tables?

(2) Does the link manager work in the run time version of Access 2010?  Each location has a different linkage requirement.  Some are in directories with different names, so I can't "hard code" a linkage in my ACCDB file and then create an ACCDE.

Will I be able to use the link manager in the run time version of Access 2010, SP2?  If not, how would you recommend handling the different linkage requirements for each branch?

Regards,

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Rich Locus, Logicwurks, LLC

http://www.logicwurks.com

Answer 1

(1) I know you can do this with Access 2007.  I doubt that this has changed with 2010.  See section entitled "Decide which file format to use" at the link below:

https://support.office.com/en-au/article/Deploy-an-Access-2007-application-7bb4f2ba-30ee-458c-a673-102dc34bf14f

(2) Unfortunately the linked table manager doesn't work with the runtime version.  You'll need to roll your own or install your .accdb back end to a standard location.  You might be able to use a drive letter to refer to the location of the back end and have each user define that drive letter differently.

While I can't vouch for any of these, here are some links to sample databases and code which might help you roll your own relinking solution:

http://www.devhut.net/2011/04/07/ms-access-vb-relink-back-end-tables/
http://access.mvps.org/access/tables/tbl0009.htm
http://www.jstreettech.com/files/JStreetAccessRelinker.zip
http://www.utteraccess.com/forum/Linking-Tables-t128312.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/209862

-Bruce

Answer 2

Bruce:

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.  I really appreciate it!!

Rich

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Rich Locus, Logicwurks, LLC

http://www.logicwurks.com