I have been developing applications using Access programming since version 2.0 was released in 1993.
What I like about this platform is that it makes custom software development more cost
effective for many small businesses and for many departmental
uses in larger companies. A Microsoft Access developer can create a very
functional application more rapidly than with other methods. This is especially valuable where budget
constraints may not support development using other Microsoft tools such as
C#, or SQL Server. Access enables a programmer to get something
up and running in a relatively short time. Yet in doing so, it still allows developers an upgrade path to
Microsoft SQL Server should you one day need a more powerful database solution than what an Access program alone can provide.
Packaged Software Development
Programmers can also create an Access developed packaged solution
that can be sold or redistributed to many other businesses. The package can be
distributed with Microsoft's royalty-free Runtime. In that way it can
be used on computers that do not currently have a copy of Access installed.
This does not give the user all the capabilities of the full product.
For example, the user would not have the ability to develop new Access reports, the ability to create
new data entry screens, nor other features
that a programmer may make
use of when initially designing the solution. But it does make all of the
Access programmed reports, screens, queries, etc., that have already been
developed and placed into the database available to the user. It does not
require that the user purchase their own copy of Access.
If you would like to discuss how Access can fill a database
application need in your company, please get in touch with me. I work
for clients as a developer in San Diego and in other cities via remote support.