database without Access

[rellimed]

A little background, certainly not an expert but have been working with Access since Access 97. So, not my first foray into Access but my first time in the forum...really great that someone/s out there has the knowledge and inclination to host such an endeavor. Greatly appreciated by the users.
Currently using Access 2002 in Windows XP.


My issue is primarily, my bad memory, not the computer, mine. I could swear that in one of the versions of Access, that one could build the database, and then either export it or save it as an MDE file that could be run on a computer without Microsoft Access being installed. Am I crazy? And should I be commited? If anyone knows anything about this and if there is a way to do this in any of the currently viable versions of Access, I would be eternally grateful for any insight you can provide.

[pbaldy]

To my knowledge that has never been possible. You can certainly create an MDE, but it still runs with the Access program. You can install a runtime version of Access for users without the full version. Previous to 2007 that was available in a special developer version of Office, but starting in 2007 it became freely available from Microsoft.

[rellimed]

I did not see anything in this forum connected to my post but somewhere someone jogged my memory. You can create a standalone access database but it does not have to be an mde file. You do have to use the Microsoft Office Developer suite. With it, you can create your database in Access, then package it to be used as a standalone application installed on your user's computer and they do not have to have Access installed on their computer. The installation copies all of the runtime and system files necessary to run Access and builds an installation package.
I am going to have to look around for how to mark the question as answered.
Thanks for those who took to the time to look and comment.

[pbaldy]

Well, what you will find is that the package installs the runtime version of Access. I promise you, the mdb/mde is running under Access, not as a stand-alone.