Access 2003 VBA Programmer's Reference

A.2. Key Decision Factors

Having established some common terminology, we can focus on the key factors for making the decision to enable or to convert. A pivotal factor is dealing with multiple versions of Access that need to utilize the same data file or application. Other key issues include: Will any new features from Access 2003 be incorporated into the application? Is an MDE file required? What version is the original application in, and of course, what would the time and resources or cost/benefit be?

For the most part, it is very straightforward to either enable or convert a database to 2003. User-level security will require extra steps, but if the situation warrants a secured database, the effort is well worth it. And, as always, replication proves to be a special case. However, an evaluation of the trade-offs typically supports the effort to convert. If you are considering some of the costs and time associated with rolling out a new version over a vast network, it is very handy to have several options that are a mix of status quo, enabling and converting. And, if you are responsible for making the decision about upgrading or staying with earlier versions of Access, we strongly recommend that you focus on how Access 2003's new features can pay for themselves and provide a significant return on investment. Before converting, you will definitely want to spend some time getting familiar with the various security features incorporated in Access 2003. Again, special consideration ...