Cross Ref > Tool Basics

C++/CLI projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

To create a ClickOnce deploy package, search the internet for mage.exe and mageui.exe.

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

You can deploy your Microsoft Access application either with the full version of Access or with the Access Runtime (see Deploying Applications Using the Access Runtime).

The only development tool I know that supports C++/CLI at this time is Visual Studio.Net. C++/CLI was introduced in VS.Net 2005 and continued in VS.Net 2008.

Microsoft Office Access is the primary tool and does include pretty good debugging features, some limited OOP features such as designing a class and instantiating an object, and, best of all, MS still has developers working on MS Access (as opposed to Corel Paradox).

The C++/CLI standard file extensions are the same as standard C++. Important C++ file extensions:

• .CPP = C++ Source file. Your startup source file will have a main() routine.
• .C = C source file (sometimes used for C++ source files too).
• .H = Header include file.

Some important Visual C++ file extensions:

• .SLN = Visual Studio.Net solution
• .VCPRJ = The Visual C++ project file. See Project Files and Makefiles for more information.

 Ref: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3awe4781(VS.80).aspx

• .MDB - Access Database
• .MDE - Protected Access Database

 Access VBA File Extensions (.MDB)

Language Overview: Microsoft's C++ language for .Net Framework development. Was called Managed C++ but the name changed after a major overhaul of the language. C++/CLI is a hybrid language that allows you to use standard C++ (callled native objects) as well as managed C++/CLI objects. Whether a type is native or managed within the same appliction depends on whether you use standard C++ syntax or the new C++/CLI managed code syntax.

Language History: C++/CLI was introducted with VS.Net 2005 and replaced Managed C++ (introduced with VS.Net 2002). C++/CLI was standardized by ECMA-372.

Target Platforms: C++/CLI is suitable for creating .Net Framework applications.

Language Overview: Class-based language. Although you can create classes, Access VBA is not fully OOP. It is a traditional language with a few OOP extensions. You code in a traditional approach using functions, procedures, and global data, and you can make use of simple classes to help organize your reusable code.

Target Platforms: Microsoft Access is most suitable for creating business desktop applications that run within Microsoft Access for Windows.

Use any report writer you are comfortable with but Crystal Reports remains popular for Visual C++ and C++/CLI. For C++Builder, Nevrona Rave Reports remains popular and all editions of C++Builder 2009 come bundled with Rave Reports 7.6 (CodeGear Bundled Edition).

Microsoft Access offers a built-in reporting tool that will suffice for most desktop database applications.