Microsoft Access Developer / Programmer: I have been a developer
of custom software using Microsoft Access since version 2.0 was released in 1993.
What I like about Access is that for many small businesses and for many departmental
uses in larger companies, a programmer can employ Microsoft Access to create a very
functional application where budget constraints may not support development using
programming tools such as C#, or SQL Server. Access enables a developer to get something
up and running in a relatively short time, while still allowing a programmer to
later take an upgrade path to SQL Server should you one day exceed the data processing
capabilities of a pure Microsoft Access solution.
Packaged Software
In addition to developing a custom database solution tailored to a specific business,
a developer can also use Microsoft Access to create a packaged software solution
that can be sold or redistributed to many other businesses. The software can be
distributed with the royalty-free Microsoft Access Runtime, and in that way can
be used on computers that do not currently have a copy of Microsoft Access installed.
The Access Runtime does not give the user the capabilities of having a full copy
of Microsoft Access, such as the ability to create new reports, the ability to create
new data entry screens, or other features that a developer or programmer might make
use of when initially developing the application. But it does give the ability for
a user to use all of the reports, screens, queries, etc., that have already been
created and placed into the database by the programmer, without having to purchase
a copy of Microsoft Access.
If you would like to discuss how Microsoft Access can be used to fill a database
/ software application need in your company, please get in touch with me.