Can I put database on CD-ROM for distribution ??

[jackal63]

Is there anyway to put a usable database on a CD to give to users? I have to imaging that Access not being able to create an .ldb file in the same location as the .mdb file would cause an error.

Is there someway to not open the .ldb file or to specify that the .ldb file should open in a temp directory on C: ?

Any help on what the best course of action would be would be greatly appreciated.

 

[psemianonymous]

There are a few things that you might like:

1. You can set a CD-ROM's autorun to run a batch file. There are a bunch of web sites on how to set this up, here is one:

http://cloanto.com/kb/3-157.html

2. The DOS/command-line-based ATTRIB command can reset the "Read Only" file attribute,

ATTRIB -R FILENAME.EXT

3. you can use the COPY command to copy your file to the local computer.


So this would look something like:

(RUN.BAT)

COPY YOURDB.MDB C:\TEMP\YOURDB.MDB
ATTRIB -R C:\TEMP\YOURDB.MDB
START C:\TEMP\YOURDB.MDB



...


but there's no way to "smoothly" open an MDB directly off of the CD-ROM, for most definitions of "smoothly".

 

[vbainchicago]

Are you giving the end user an .mde or .mdb file?

VBAINCHICAGO

http://www.jjscomputing.com

 

[Hap007]

Dear jackal63,

You can place an access mdb on a CD with no problems.
If you attempt to open the db, on the CD, Access will tell you that the DB is opened read-only. Now, you will be able to view tables and the like, but if you want to run any programs, well I can not tell you if Access will allow that.

Here is a tip that will let you open an Access file on CD.

1) Your users need to have Win zip installed.
2) Zip your Access mdb into a zip file.
3) Copy the resulting 'zip' file to the CD.
4) Now, when your users double click on the Zip file, it will open.
5) Finally, If your user then double clicks on the MDB file, in the Winzip file, Win Zip creates a copy of the mdb in the temp directory and runs fine.

The only disadvantage, when your user exits from this whole process, win zip will report that the db has changed and will ask if you want to save. Just answer no.

Good Luck,
Hap...

Access Developer

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