Cross Ref > Tool Basics

You can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

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).

C++Builder 2007 and 2009 are bundled with InstallAware Express CodeGear Edition installer.

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).

Many compilers and development tools are available. Common development tools include Microsoft Visual C++, CodeGear C++Builder, and Eclipse.

With Visual C++ you use Microsoft's C++ syntax variations based on standard C++ or Microsoft's new C++/CLI syntax standard.

With C++Builder, you code using standard C++ with early support for the upcoming C++0x standard and using the VCL/RTL libraries. The VCL/RTL libraries are in common with Delphi which is based on Object Pascal. Within a project, C++Builder can use both C++ units and Delphi units.

With most C++ tools, you can also use your favorite C and C++ libraries too.

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).

Important standard 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.

Some important C++Builder file extensions:

• .BDSPROJ and .CBPROJ = Project file.

 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: C++ is a hybrid traditional C and OOP language. You code either in a traditional approach using functions, procedures, and global data, or you code using an OOP approach, or a mixture of both.

Target Platforms: C++ is suitable for creating any type of native code applications for many different platforms. The focus of this information is on creating native code Win32 applications that run on Microsoft Windows.

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. C++Builder 2009 comes bundled with Rave Reports and Crystal Reports remains popular for Visual C++.

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