Creating standalone app with Microsoft Access

Question

Once I saw a DB made in MS Access that worked as a normal program, i.e with an executable file that opened a beautiful UI and allowed access to the forms and reports. I've trying to do the same, I even googled but didn't find how do it. Anyone knows how to build such standalone App with Access?

Answer 1

You cant make an access database into an executable file. It just cant happen however you can fool people into thinking that they are not using access a number of ways, for example

• Custom splash screen (just put a bmp file in the folder and name it the same as your database)

• Hide the access window and toolbars

• Change the access icon

For example take a look at this screen shot

There are lots of things going on here and it would be hard to tell that it is built using good old access 97 (Yes I know the standard toolbar kind of gives it away, it will be going at somepoint).

Answer 2

I believe the tool is called the Microsoft Access Runtime toolkit or something along those lines. The latest version is free, a departure from the previous versions which I believe you had to pay for. From the previous version I tinkered with, it comes with a tool to make a EXE file from the MDB or ACCB file, a handful of icons for the EXE to use if you are lacking one, and a program to help you generate Microsoft Help files for your application.

This is a link to the Developer Extensions - I believe the 2007 version of what I described above: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=D96A8358-ECE4-4BEE-A844-F81856DCEB67&displaylang=en

Here is a link for the runtime, which doesn't convert your Access database into an executable file, but would allow it to run on computers without Access installed: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=D9AE78D9-9DC6-4B38-9FA6-2C745A175AED&displaylang=en

NOTE: Both of these are for Access 2007, the version I run. Your version might require something different - but should be easily located on Microsoft's website.

Answer 3

If you want to fool the user in thinking that they are not using access it will take some ingenuity. I have done this. You will need a way to make nice 2D images that you will import into access, and then set them up like buttons, and give them functionality. Make sure you over lay them on a splash screen of some kind. Not sure if you know VBA but it will be needed.

At the end make sure you go in to the setting, and turn off anything that might allow the user to alter the form in any way. And then rename the file's extension like this: fileName.accdr

This is as close to a normal program that you are going to get, and remember it will only look as good as the art you put into it.