Application distributions

[ltlearn]

Hi,

I am using the MS Access to create the database, and using VB codes to access the data. Now, if I want to distribute this application to the users who does not have any MS access installed, will they able to use. By the way, I am using the VB package and deployment tools to create the distribution package, will it be able to bundle the right dll to the package ?
Thanks.

[honeybee]

Yes, you can safely distribute your application without the need to have MS Access installed on the client's machine.

The points to be noted are:

If you are using DAO to access the database, your package should contain the appropriate DLL file, DAO 3.51 (Access 97) or DAO 3.6 (Access 2000). If you are using the Package and Deployment Wizard that comes with VB, you need not worry at all. It will bundle everything required.

If you are using ADO, you need to get the latest copy of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) into your package. With Windows 98 and higher, MDAC is part of the OS, but with Access 2000, the OS copy of MDAC may not work. You can find the installer to the MDAC on the Visual Studio CD.

And lastly, if your application does not create the database if it is absent, you need to bundle your database file also into the package. Most installers will allow you to specify additional files to be included apart from the DLLs etc. required for the application. And you can specify the name of the database file here sothat the database file is also included with the application.

.

[zuperman]

i recommend Visual Studio Installer...