Software Deployment

Hi there!

I dunno how you are repackaging your Access, but the file association is usually saved in the registry.
Look for example in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT for the access file extention in your package.
There is also user specific extentions. Have a look in CURRENT_USER too.

/Jonas

Thanks for the reply jonasm. I was thinking that's the way I would have to do it. I'm packaging with Wise Package Studio. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this yet but I was thinking of importing a key from another machine that I created that forces or locks down Access 97 as the only program to open Access databases. In order for someone to open a database in another program, they would be forced to right click and select "Open With." Right now I'm trying to figure out how to do this. Anyone have any ideas how I would write a key to do this or even if what I'm explaining would work?

Hi Marek,
there is no need for repacking Access XP, because it comes alread as an MSI file.
Just fire up ORCA, generate a MST, go to the the tables MIME and Extension and delete the associations, you don't need. Save the MST.
That's all.
Regards, Nick

Thanks nheim, that works great!!! I have another issue though. We have other versions of Access on our machines that we use. This locks it down too much as users will be unable to do "Open With" and change to a different version of Access if need be. So I want Access 97 to be the default database program but I would still like to have the option to change to other database programs with "Open With." Please advise.

Hi Marek,
play around with these tables. First, i would just rename the 'Extension' entry (e.g. mdb) in the Extension table to something new. That should install all the handlers, but not to the normal extension.
The 'Open with...' should work all the time, because, there is the possibility to choose a new program with full path. So, maybe, this isn't necessary at all.
Regards, Nick