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Microsoft Access

The official blog of the Microsoft Access product team
Download Access 2010 Public Beta today

Today, we are thrilled to announce the release of the public beta of Access 2010, Access 2010 Runtime, and SharePoint 2010. You can download Office and SharePoint at www.microsoft.com/2010.

My July post Access 2010--The 10,000 ft. View outlined the following advancements:

  • Get started faster
  • Better design and customization tools
  • Centralized business logic
  • Landing pad for data
  • SharePoint performance and offline
  • Browser apps

Last month Ryan and I gave the first public demo on Channel 9. If you haven’t see it—definitely interesting for Access users. See the 2010 Intro Series and Top 10 Benefits for more information about what is new.

Access 2010 Runtime

As many of you know, the Access 2007 Runtime didn’t ship until some time after Access 2007 RTM. This was cause of frustration for many of our developers who had solutions ready for customers. This release, we have a goal to ship the Access Runtime as close to Access 2010 as possible. As a part of this effort, the Access 2010 Runtime Beta is ready for download. You can download the Access 2010 Runtime Beta today.

Here are some of the new features in Access 2010 Runtime:

  • Published Apps: In Access 2010, users can create applications and publish for sharing it with other users. Access Runtime works great with published Access web applications. Users can open and upload data changes using the Access 2010 Runtime.
  • Access 2010 caching: In Access 2007 Runtime, “Take Offline” (Access 2007 caching) was not available in the Runtime. In Access 2010 Runtime, customers get to access to the faster and automatic Access 2010 caching. Feature now available to Runtime customers include – reconnect lists, automatic offline when connectivity is lost, and notifications when connectivity is restored.
  • Backstage: Backstage will be available to allow users to print, close and sign up for Customer Experience Improvement Program. Developers can extend backstage and add custom tabs and buttons for their applications.
  • New Access features: Runtime users will be able to use the new rich features introduced in Access 2010 such as Data Macros, BCS data, navigation control, web browser control, conditional formatting, and calculated columns.
  • 64-Bit: Access 2010 Runtime will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
  • Languages: Access 2010 Runtime beta is available in 6 languages (en-us, zh-cn, ja-jp, fr-fr, de-de, es-es, ru-ru). The RTM version will be released in as many languages as Access 2010.

Give Feedback

We look forward to your feedback. The best way is the Send a Smile tool that is included again with the Public Beta. This lets you send us comments and a screenshot of what you are doing. Please include your email address if you want us to follow up with you. Members of the team will be looking for your feedback.

Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:03 PM by Clint Covington

Comments

Joseph Dowski said:

Went to the download site...entered my Windows Live ID and then hit a screen that was refreshing endlessly ??

Please advise.. :)

J.

# November 18, 2009 5:59 PM

CyrusB said:

Went to www.microsoft.com/2010 and clicked the 'Learn More' button on Office 2010.  Unfortunately, it does nothing.  Probably because, like many people, my browser is set to block pop-ups.

Clicked the link below that says 'Get more from your business productivity infrastructure' thinking this may be an alternative way of getting to the information, but it instead it takes me to some site full of tiresome marketing rhetoric about productivity.

You'd think that basic stuff like this might be checked.  'Customer experiences' like this convey the message of user-frustration and MS incompetence...given the enormous amount MS spends on marketing and PR, its amazing how something so simple can be overlooked.

Given the utter debacle of MS Access 2007 online help, I really do hope the actually Access team still tests things.

# November 18, 2009 7:52 PM

Clint Covington said:

CyrusB: The Access team doesn't test everything that goes out of the Office org. Most of the time it works but occassionaly we get to learn from our mistakes. Here is the direct link:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx

Joseph: I would try it again. The servers have seen quite a bit of traffic today. :-)

# November 18, 2009 8:07 PM

Darren M said:

"You can now connect to data sources via Web service protocol. Include Web services and line-of-business applications data right in the databases you build through Business Connectivity Services."

Hi Clint, as we say in Australia, "Please explain."

This sounds great, will I be able to use this on my clients existing Windows 2003 servers? Here's my hope

Access->ADO->Web Service->Internet->Client Server->?BCS?->SQL Server.

Regards

Darren

# November 19, 2009 4:27 AM

Koko Efraim said:

Clint,

On downloading, I print the registry key with Microsoft Document Imaging .mdi format, then upgrade existing Office 2007 to 2010 beta accordingly.

Alas, the saved .mdi file cannot be opened, since there is no MDI in office 2010 tool, even when I tried to add office tools from control panel's add/remove program after installation.

Is the MDI gone in 2010? How can I open the old .mdi format?

Regards,

Koko Efraim

West Java - Indonesia

# November 21, 2009 8:12 AM

Daniel Isoje said:

Hi Clint,

You guys have done a great job. This is the MS Access version I have long waited to see. Pls get it well finished with minimal bugs so i start production work immeddiately.

# November 25, 2009 12:46 PM

Joel B. Valenzuela said:

I want to discover the enhanced features of the New Access 2010 version. This will improve my project using MS Access program for the Airport's FIDS

Thanks.

# December 9, 2009 4:56 PM
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