Creating databases without DB apps

Yeah, I know, this is a totally n00b question...

I have learned some VB and a couple other languages in the hopes of turning a current MS Access database into a program that I can sell... it is a niche market that I think I could do quite well in. I have a lot of VBA code in the Access project, and have pretty much got the database design all figured out. What are my first steps towards creating a application I can sell? The cheaper I can sell the application the better, so I certainly can't design it to use SQL Server... and Access may be out for the same reason. This is going to be for non-technical folk who won't be wanting to configure servers on their systems. What are my options?

-BreadBaker

Welcome to VBF :wave:

Well, XML sounds like it would be the best for you. But it all depends on how sensitive the data is and how much you're going to store. You'd still want to look into an obfuscator or something regardless, but... Atleast you'd be completely self suficient when it comes to your information.

As usual... searches are fruitless until just after I post a question! I think that this thread probably tells me what I need to know. I can go ahead and use an Access backend as long as I write my own GUI. Time to go read up on ADO...

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is FREE. Access databases are also free to distribute, but i would still recommend SQL Server Express...

Keep the application in the Access db. The user doesn't need to have Access installed for your app to access the database.

Look for tutorials on ADO (here on vbforums), and a post of mine on 5/14 or 5/15 with a link to planetsourcecode to see how you can have your app create a blank database the first time it runs.