Solved File associations in 2019?

[Gasman]

Well I finally bit the bullet and upgraded to 2019 from 2007.
2007 was fine for my needs, but I got tired of downloading dbs from here and elsewhere, only to find I could not open them.

Now that means I can even look at the Northwind2 Developer DB, so I download the template.
Only to find that not program is associated with the accdt suffix?

Is this the norm these days? 2007 would open templates without any issues, 2003 as well for that matter?

I have now set it, but was just curious?

 

[isladogs]

Hooray. You finally updated. Why 2019 though rather than 2021 or 365?

On my machine, ACCDT files are associated with Access
However for info, ACCDT files are not actually Access databases.
They are a collection of objects zipped together in a bundle which when extracted create all the components for the ACCDDB file
If you rename the .accdt as .zip you will see what I mean

 

[Gasman]

You finally updated. Why 2019 though rather than 2021 or 365?

Purely down to cost Colin. As I mentioned, I really have no need of a later version, but unable to open a lot of the dbs was starting to annoy me, and was limiting me in how I could help others.

They are a collection of objects zipped together in a bundle which when extracted create all the components for the ACCDDB file

Did not know that, but they were associated with 2007 as I had opened several templates in the past. Strange how 2019 did not re-asscociate on installation.

I do have a few extra functions in Excel now, so they might come in handy.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Purely down to cost Colin.

The full version of office costs at least 3 or 4 times as much as the annual subscription. If you found a "bargain" it is almost certainly pirated.

If you only need 1 copy of Office, I think it's around $70 annually. But for $99 you get six installs so all your computers and maybe even the spouse and kids get one too.

Much as I dislike the subscription model, at least MS has been keeping the price down pretty low.

 

[Gasman]

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[Jason Lee Hayes]

I believe all Microsoft applications should be free; in fact, i would go on to say they should pay us for using their product... It's simply unreliable at the best of times...

 

[Gasman]

In fact you can get 2021 from Amazon for a few quid more?
Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus https://amzn.eu/d/7ivJ62C

 

[AHeyne]

Just out of interest, @Gasman : Which update channel does your Office 2019 installation belong to? And is it of installation type MSI or C2R?

 

[Gasman]

Just out of interest, @Gasman : Which update channel does your Office 2019 installation belong to? And is it of installation type MSI or C2R?

Not sure I know to be honest. It was downloaded as an img file and expands to the normal structure you would have on a DVD, with cab files.

 

[isladogs]

2019 is only available as C2R
Most 'cheap' Office licenses are where a volume license has been obtained by the reseller who then sells on a number of licenses with the same license key. You may find that you cannot obtain monthly updates for the software.

 

[Gasman]

Well I have not had updates for 2007 for quite a while now.
So that would be the least of my problems.

If push comes to shove, I still have 2007 to fall back on.

You yourself have been pushing me to upgrade on several occasions in the past?, and I only did it for the Access program. Word and Excel I was happy with, as that could open later version files regardless, just Access would not.

 

[isladogs]

As already mentioned, I'm pleased you've upgraded. I was just explaining how some versions of Office can be purchased so cheaply.
I've done it myself in the past & so I know some of the potential issues.

 

[Pat Hartman]

If you use all 6 of the licenses from the "home" version or whatever it is being called these days which sells for $99 + tax so I paid $108, the cost per day, per license is less than 5 cents. If you use only one license, the cost per day is 29 cents. A bargain compared to your Starbucks Latte I've seen the "home" version for sale at Costco for about $10 less.

I have always avoided these websites because I know that MS prohibits bulk licenses from being sold this way. That is assuming that they even have legimite licenses and are not reselling the same license to everyone.

I would love to have VMs with multiple versions available but the cost of setting them up when you are not an MVP any more is prohibitive, I would love it if MS could find a way to package these for developers for testing only.

 

[riktek]

Not sure I know to be honest. It was downloaded as an img file and expands to the normal structure you would have on a DVD, with cab files.

Out of curiousity, could you share (here or by dm) which vendor you used? I'm attempting the same upgrade path (i.e., 2007-2019) but the key and media I got don't play well together, so I'm looking for alternatives.

 

[riktek]

2019 is only available as C2R
Most 'cheap' Office licenses are where a volume license has been obtained by the reseller who then sells on a number of licenses with the same license key. You may find that you cannot obtain monthly updates for the software.

I have been experimenting with one of these volume license keys (also for 2019, it turns out) and can't get it to work.

I've tried running setup.exe with and without a configuration.xml file, with media from varying sources, and in all cases get the error "This product key is for the volume-licensed version of Access 2019, which isn't currently installed [!]. To use this product key, contact your administrator."

So, either my media or technique are wrong.

Any guidance would be appreciated. I also don't want to keep asking Colin for A2007 versions of all his brilliant demo ACCDBs. I would hasten to add that my out-of-pocket cost was trivial, not to mention sunk, and I am more concerned with the loss of time, so vendor recommendations (here or by dm) if starting over could be as helpful as anything.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I purchased my LTSC version of Ofc2019 from a Canadian reseller. About $40 US. Can't advertise, though. It's against the rules.

 

[riktek]

I purchased my LTSC version of Ofc2019 from a Canadian reseller. About $40 US. Can't advertise, though. It's against the rules.

Understood but that's why I suggested a dm. Spill. ;-)

 

[riktek]

If you use all 6 of the licenses from the "home" version or whatever it is being called these days which sells for $99 + tax so I paid $108, the cost per day, per license is less than 5 cents. If you use only one license, the cost per day is 29 cents. A bargain compared to your Starbucks Latte I've seen the "home" version for sale at Costco for about $10 less.

I have always avoided these websites because I know that MS prohibits bulk licenses from being sold this way. That is assuming that they even have legimite licenses and are not reselling the same license to everyone.

I would love to have VMs with multiple versions available but the cost of setting them up when you are not an MVP any more is prohibitive, I would love it if MS could find a way to package these for developers for testing only.

No Access in the "Home" version, IIRC.

I've done "bitness" Windows VMs before using VMware (on Linux but it shouldn't matter) with zero cost other than time and storage space. Quite helpful for running simulations back in the day when 64-bit MSO was considered experimental.

 

[isladogs]

Access is in both the Home and Family versions of Office. The difference is the number of installations (1 or 6) allowed.

 

[riktek]

Access is in both the Home and Family versions of Office. The difference is the number of installations (1 or 6) allowed.

That's curious, because on Amazon just now, in the U.S., at least, it isn't included in the Home, Home & Business, or Family 365 (subscription) versions. My recollection is that it hasn't been, for years, at least according to the listings. In each case, they're limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. There is a Business Standard version with a more complete set but that seems to be it.

On Best Buy (a US electronics retailer), Access is included in the 365 subscription versions but not the MSO one-time purchase versions.

Hence my curiousity about vendors.