Microsoft Access Runtime Distribution and Free Downloads Microsoft offers runtime versions of Microsoft Access so you can create database applications in MS Access and distribute them to non-Access owners. The runtime version allows your users to use your databases without purchasing their own license of Access/Office.
Runtime Version Differences The Microsoft Access Runtime version differs from the retail version in several ways:. All design-related user interfaces are either removed or disabled. Database and macro windows are hidden.
Filter By Form, Filter By Selection, and Advanced Filter windows are hidden. This means your users only use the forms and reports you create and do not work directly with the tables, queries, etc.
Users cannot create their own Microsoft Access databases or modify the object designs in the database(s) you give them. There is no Design View. Your users cannot modify your objects including queries and reports. The VBA editor is not included. Your users cannot view or modify module code. They can view, add, edit, and delete the data in your database.
Special Keys such as Ctrl+Break, Ctrl+G, Shift key when opening the database, and other keys to modify objects or code are not available. Microsoft Office features such as spell checking are not included.
Note that spell checking is available if the user has that version of Office installed. No Access help file Microsoft Access Runtime Versions and Download Links In earlier versions of Microsoft Access, you needed to purchase a special developer version of Access to receive the runtime version and other related resources. Since MS Access 2007, Microsoft has distributed the runtime versions for free. You can download them from here. Older versions of Microsoft Access The runtime versions of Access 2003 and earlier were not free. For Access 2003, get the Office Developer Extensions for Office 2003.
For earlier versions of Access, get the Office Developer Toolkit Given the deprecation of many features in Microsoft Access 2013, we recommend distributing the Microsoft Access 2010 runtime rather than 2013 in most cases. Make Sure You Have Error Handling for Runtime Distributions Because users of the runtime version do not have the design surfaces, it's important that any MS Access application you distribute with the runtime has a robust global error handler in place for all procedures.
Otherwise, unexpected errors will cause your application without recourse. The Debug dialog is not available with a runtime deployment.
For more details on error handling read our papers on:. Simulating Runtime During Development As the developer, you have the full version of Microsoft Access to create your database application. Rather than have a different machine to test how your application behaves with the runtime version, Microsoft offers a way to run MS Access in runtime mode. Read our paper for more details:. Running Your Application with the Runtime Launching Microsoft Access with your database is similar to the way you would do so with the regular version of Access. Simply launch the msaccess.exe followed by the name of your database. Your database should launch with an Autoexec macro or have a startup form defined.
Without it, nothing will appear as the runtime version does not expose the database container to users. Microsoft Access Version History Here's a history of all the with a summary of enhancements, deprecated features and other changes. Need Additional Help with the Runtime or Deployment? Our custom software development team has extensive experience creating Microsoft Access solutions that are deployed to users around the world using the Access runtime version. In conjunction with our program, application deployment can be managed and updated centrally. We also have experience using to support users over the Internet to run Access applications without having to install Access on their local machines.
By hosting the Access application in a secure data center, Mac users and other non-traditional Access users can run your Microsoft Access application from their device. Contact our for details.
When you share documents with Office 2003, you have control over what gets changed. You can choose permission settings and allow co-authors to alter only the sections or formatting that you choose. Office 2003 also helps protect your documents from being unintentionally changed by using formatting and editing restrictions. Simply set permission controls on entire documents or portions of a document to prevent modifications or reformatting.
You can also improve the efficiency of your meetings with 'Meeting Workspaces,' which offer a centralized location for sharing agendas, visual resources, and other documentation. And instant messaging (IM), which can be displayed in most programs in Office 2003 applications, lets you know when your team members are online. Microsoft Office 2003 Pro: One of the most significant upgrades that's included in Office 2003 is broader XML support. Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office Excel 2003, and Microsoft Office Access 2003 each offer XML schemas you can customize for using data, smart documents, and programmable task panes. With these improvements, you can manipulate, analyze, and format data from your most critical business systems and can customize documents and task panes so that they integrate with XML data sources and outside programs.
The enhancements also reduce development time with XML. With Excel 2003, for instance, you can use the visual mapping tool to connect a user-specified XML schema to fields in your spreadsheet, and customize smart tags to bring relevant business information directly into your work. Included with Office 2003 Professional edition is Access 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager, PowerPoint 2003, Publisher 2003, and Word 2003.
Access 2003 provides a powerful set of tools that are sophisticated enough for professional developers, yet easy to learn for new users. With Access 2003, you can create or use powerful database solutions that make organizing, accessing, and sharing information easier than ever. Excel 2003 enables you to turn data into information with powerful tools to analyze, communicate, and share results. Excel 2003 can help you work better in teams, and help protect and control access to your work. In addition, you can work with XML data to make it easier to connect to business processes.
Outlook 2003 provides an integrated solution for managing and organizing e-mail messages, schedules, tasks, notes, contacts, and other information. Outlook 2003 delivers innovations you can use to manage your communications, organize your work, and work better with others - all from a single location. Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager Update is designed to help small businesses manage customer information and sales opportunities within Outlook 2003. The update includes new capabilities for sharing customer information within a PC network, as well as support for synchronizing business contacts with a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC. PowerPoint 2003 includes new tools to help you create, present, and collaborate on presentations that have more impact.
Keeping in touch and communicating with customers is essential for any business. A complete business publishing and marketing materials solution, Publisher 2003 can help you reach out to customers. With Publisher 2003, it's easier than ever to design, create, and publish professional marketing and communication materials in-house. And with Word 2003, the latest version of the best-selling word processor, you can create impressive-looking documents faster than ever before and help you collaborate more efficiently with others.