Acces Technical Summary — Windows

Requirements

A network client or standalone computer requires:

a 486- or Pentium-type processor.
Windows 95/98/2000/XP or NT with the latest service pack.
16MB of RAM or more, depending on operating system.

Also, a network file server or standalone computer requires at least 10MB of hard drive space. The actual requirement varies with the number of database modules that are installed. Typically, the Acces program needs 3–4 MB and each database module needs 5–8 MB. Very little space is needed on a network client, and that space is for temporary files only.

Note: Acces can run on older computers (DOS or Windows 3.1) and the requirements are less. However, not all of the latest program features will be available.

Licensing

Acces is site-licensed with no annual maintenance fee. Briefly, under the license, Acces may be installed and run on any computer at school or at teachers' homes. Also, teachers may reprint an unlimited number of documents (or items from the database), provided they are distributed only to students at the school.

For more details, please read our sample site license agreement.

Networking

Acces runs identically from a local hard drive or file server—there is practically no difference in how the program is set up or launched. Here are the main points about networking:

Acces is compatible with all common network operating systems: Netware, NT, etc.
Acces can be kept secure by restricting rights to the program directory.
Acces can be launched by any method: NAL, Windows shortcut, etc.
When Acces resides on a server, all files can be write-protected, so they do not get erased accidentally by users.
User’s documents and settings are stored separately as long as Acces is launched from a local, private, or unique "start in" directory.

Installation

Acces is installed from a CDROM by a typical Windows Setup program. (Once installed, the CDROM is not needed again.) Acces does not put any DLLs or other files in the Windows system folder, and it does not touch the registry. Therefore, the main program folder can easily be moved or renamed.

Note: The Acces CDROM is the same for all schools, although their licenses may differ. What distinguishes each installation is a "key code." Teachers enter the code when running the Setup program, and it unlocks only the licensed modules.