ADT95: Microsoft ADT Licensing Questions and Answers

• Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit, version 7.0

SUMMARY

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

1. Q. How can developers distribute solutions built with Microsoft Access for Windows 95 version 7.0?
   
   A. The Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 includes a royalty-free run-time license that permits developers to distribute solutions built with Microsoft Access via a "run-time version" of Microsoft Access for Windows 95.



2. Q. What are the differences between the retail and run-time versions of Microsoft Access for Windows 95?
   
   A. The retail and run-time versions are exactly the same, except that design capabilities have been "turned off" in the run-time version. Turning off design capabilities means that solution users can change the data but not the design of their solution. Examples of design changes include modifying database objects (tables, forms, reports, and queries) and using the wizards in Microsoft Access. The run-time version also does not support the new Filter-By-Form feature in Microsoft Access for Windows 95 because this is technically a design capability.
   
   Users who want design capabilities can purchase and install the retail version of Microsoft Access.



3. Q. Does the run-time version support the replication features of Microsoft Access?
   
   A. The run-time version of Microsoft Access supports any replication scheme set up by the developer of the solution. (Replication information is stored in the database (.MDB file) itself, so it is not effected by the run-time version of Microsoft Access). Replication features which are dependent on changing the design of the database (for example, Briefcase replication) require a retail installation of Microsoft Access.



4. Q. Does the run-time version support the security features of Microsoft Access?
   
   A. The run-time version of Microsoft Access supports the Microsoft Access security model which developers can use to secure data and solutions from unauthorized user access. This means that users receiving the run-time solution cannot alter the security implementation or their permissions on the database. This is true even if the user purchases a retail version of Microsoft Access because the security information is stored separately in SYSTEM.MDA, and cannot be modified by anyone but the developer.
   
   
5. Q. Can developers use the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 to distribute Microsoft Access 2.0 solutions?
   
   A. No. The Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 supports solutions developed with Microsoft Access for Windows 95. Developers wanting to distribute solutions with Microsoft Access 2.0 should purchase the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit 2.0. (This product will be available for a limited time after the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 is commercially available.) Please contact your local reseller or Microsoft account representative for more information on any of these products.
   
   Registered Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit 2.0 owners can receive a $100 rebate when they upgrade to Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95. (The rebate coupon is included in the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit and is valid until December 31, 1996.)



6. Q. Can developers continue to use both versions of the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit to distribute solutions in mixed environments?
   
   A. Yes. The Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 license permits developers to continue to use the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit version 2.0 after upgrading to the newer version.
   
   Note that developers may not transfer their Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit 2.0 license to anyone else after upgrading to the Windows 95 version, unless both versions are transferred to the new licensee. The Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95 license agreement covers this topic in more detail.



7. Q. Does a single copy of the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit license multiple developers working together to each distribute solutions?
   
   A. No. The Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit is licensed on a per- developer basis. Each license permits one developer to distribute an unlimited number of solutions with the run-time version of Microsoft Access. Developers must purchase their own copy of the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit if they want to distribute solutions using the Microsoft Access run-time version.
   
   A company or organization that purchases a copy of the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit must designate a single developer who will be given the right to use the software.
   
   As an illustration, assume there are two developers in a company, DEV-A and DEV-B, and a single customer named CUST who uses their Microsoft Access solutions. If DEV-A purchases the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit (or the company purchased it and designated DEV-A as the license holder) and provides a run-time version of Microsoft Access to CUST, then DEV-A can distribute an unlimited number of Microsoft Access solutions or databases to CUST.
   
   DEV-A only has to provide CUST the run-time version in the first solution. Each subsequent solution or database can then reuse the run-time version that CUST has already received from DEV-A.
   
   If DEV-B wants to distribute a solution built with Microsoft Access to CUST, DEV-B is not licensed to use the Microsoft Access run-time version until he or she purchases the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit.
   
   The important point is that once DEV-B has purchased the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit, DEV-B has the right to distribute the run-time version. DEV-B may also rely on a run-time version a customer has already received through a solution provided by another Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit licensee. DEV-B may do this, provided that he or she has purchased the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit.



8. Q. Where else can developers get information about using the run-time version of Microsoft Access for Windows 95?
   
   A. Additional information is in the End User License Agreement (in the product box), including guidelines on the types of solutions that may be distributed with the run-time version and legal restrictions on international distribution of run-time solutions.



9. Q. Can developers distribute all the files that are in the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit?
   
   A. No, certain files are not redistributable. For a complete list of files which can be redistributed, see the ADTEULA.TXT file in the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit. This file is installed in the ADT directory as part of the setup process.
   
   ADTEULA.TXT includes two listings of the redistributable files in the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit. The first section, REDISTRIBUTABLE FILE LISTING, includes all redistributable files other than Microsoft Replication Manager files. Microsoft Replication Manager redistributable files are listed in the second section, REPLICATION MANAGER REDISTRIBUTABLE FILE LISTING. These two redistributable file listings are each governed by different licensing terms. Consult the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit license agreement for further details.



10. Q. What are "Data Access Objects" (or what is DAO)?
    
    A. Data Access Objects, or DAO, is the OLE Automation interface to the Jet database engine. DAO is how developers programmatically control the Jet database engine in products which include Jet such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Basic, and Microsoft Visual C++.
    
    DAO and the Jet engine are actually the same component, but the OLE Automation interface enables developers to work with the Jet engine outside of an application that includes Jet. For example, once DAO and Jet are installed on a desktop (by any of the Microsoft applications listed above), a developer can programmatically control the Jet engine using Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Project. In effect, this means the developer is enabled to use Jet as a stand-alone database engine in addition to using it with the application that installed it.



11. Q. How do developers distribute solutions that use DAO?
    
    A. There are three cases:
    
    
    
    1. If the developer builds a solution in an application that includes Jet but does not have a run-time version, for example Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office, the developer must purchase and install a copy of the application on each user's desktop for the solution to run correctly.
    
    
    
    2. If the developer builds a solution in an application that includes Jet and provides a run-time license or compilation, for example Microsoft Access (with the Microsoft Access Developers Toolkit), Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++, subject to the end user license agreements accompanying each of these products, the developer can build and distribute the solution to users with a run-time version or as a compiled application (.EXE).
    
    
    
    3. If the developer builds a solution in an application which does NOT include Jet, but relies on Jet, (for example, Microsoft Project or Microsoft Visual FoxPro), the developer faces two requirements. First, the developer must adhere to the license agreement for the application used to develop the solution. Second, the developer must purchase and install a copy of a Microsoft application or tool which DOES include Jet on the user's desktop.



12. Q. Can users access Jet through the DAO interface if they have a solution on their desktop created in Microsoft Access (via the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit), Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++?
    
    A. This question maps to the second case listed above.
    
    In fact, users that receive a solution which was built in one of these applications are not able to access DAO. In other words, although Jet may in fact be on the user's desktop, DAO is a design capability which is not enabled in run-time or compiled solutions.
    
    Users that want to use DAO can purchase and install any application that includes the Jet database engine, including Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++.



13. Q. What are the licensing guidelines for developers who want to use DAO to programmatically control replication with the Jet database engine?
    
    A. There is no difference between using DAO to programmatically control replication and using DAO to control the rest of the Jet database engine. Developers who use DAO to control replication must follow the same licensing guidelines described above.



14. Q. How are the licensing guidelines different for the Microsoft Replication Manager?
    
    A. All Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit licensing terms applies to Microsoft Replication Manager with the following differences:
    
    
    
    1. Microsoft Replication Manager does not have to be distributed as part of a custom solution. Microsoft Replication Manager may be distributed on a standalone basis to any desktop that has a copy of the Jet database engine. A valid desktop would have Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++. Any desktop which has a solution built using Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit, Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++ also qualifies.
    
    
    
    2. MiCrosoft Replication Manager product support is paid-only support under Microsoft Product Support Services policies. This support is for the licensed owners of the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit. Users who receive Microsoft Replication Manager from a Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit licensee are not covered under this support plan.

REFERENCES

The contents of this article are also available in Qalicen.exe from the Microsoft Software Library. For information about how to obtain Qalicen.exe, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q139484 : ADT95: MS ADT Licensing Q&A Available in Download Center

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbusage NpdLegal
Version : 7.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo