Editing Microsoft Access (section)

==Microsoft Access Runtime==
Microsoft offers free [[Run-time system|runtime]] versions of Microsoft Access which allow users to run an Access desktop application without needing to purchase or install a retail version of Microsoft Access. This actually allows Access developers to create databases that can be freely distributed to an unlimited number of end-users. These runtime versions of Access 2007 and later can be downloaded for free from Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmsinc.com/Microsoftaccess/runtime/index.htm|title=Microsoft Access Runtime Distribution and Free Downloads|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> The runtime versions for Access 2003 and earlier were part of the Office Developer Extensions/Toolkit and required a separate purchase.

The runtime version allows users to view, edit and delete data, along with running queries, forms, reports, macros and VBA module code. The runtime version does not allow users to change the design of Microsoft Access tables, queries, forms, reports, macros or module code. The runtime versions are similar to their corresponding full version of Access and usually compatible with earlier versions; for example Access Runtime 2010 allows a user to run an Access application made with the 2010 version as well as 2007 through 2000. Due to deprecated features in Access 2013, its runtime version is also unable to support those older features. During development one can simulate the runtime environment from the fully functional version by using the <code>/runtime</code> [[command-line option]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmsinc.com/Microsoftaccess/developer/runtime.html|title=Simulating the Microsoft Access Runtime during Development|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref>