Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application


Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

Microsoft Access is a database management system (DBMS) from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications.

Lots of our clients organize their business or even sell solutions around this great tool. But in times of cloud computing, web, and mobile devices, the reach and the usage of these Windows Desktop-based tools decline. Users require web-based applications, don’t they?

Thinfinity VirtualUI can take your software to the web, and now, your MS Access apps too!

Turn your MS Access application to a Web App

Ready to convert MS Access to web application? First, check that you’re running the latest version of Thinfinity VirtualUI. Then download an example and run Microsoft Access on the browser from the download link below:

https://www.cybelesoft.com/support/files/DemosVUI/VirtualUI_Access.zip


NOTE: On a side note, you may need to do this in order for the demo to work.

After you unzip the file, right-click the VirtualUI_Access.accdb file, and click on “Properties”. Check the “Unblock” checkbox, and click “Apply”.

 


 

Let’s review the example given on the ZIP file:

There are two things that you should take a look at from this demo:

  1. the “modVirtualUI” module
  2. Adding the VirtualUIStart method to your Main Form.

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

Both are needed if you want to successfully compile your application with VirtualUI.

The “modVirtualUI” module contains the call to VirtualUI, and is expressed in the following way:

 

 

Now, we need to add the “StartVirtualUI” method to the Main Form of our Database.

Note: “StartVirtualUI” should be one of the first things Microsoft Access loads when it starts up. For this reason, it should be inside the main module of the database.

 

 

In this case, the Main Form is Form_Contact List. Right below the “Form_Load()” method, we are adding the call to “StartVirtualUI”

After you commit these changes, save the Access Database.

 

Now we start the second configuration stage, and it will be as easy as the first one!

Open the Thinfinity VirtualUI Server Manager, navigate to the “Application” tab, and press “Add”:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

In this new window, we’ll configure the Access Database to be published. Below you’ll see an example of how it’s done:

 

 

Let me explain the following fields:

“Name”: The name you want the Web Application to display.

“Program path and file name”: In this case, we are using Office 16, so you’ll have to look for the MSACCESS.exe in the Program Files folder.

“Arguments”: Two things to take into consideration.
“C:\Apps VirtualUI\VirtualUI_Access.accdb”: This is the path of the database you want to load when Access starts.
“/x StartVirtualUI”: This is the name of the macro that calls the “vui.Start”.

Under the “Credentials” tab, configure a user that has read. Then, write permission on both the Program Files folder (where Access is ), and where the database is located:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

And under the Permissions tab, for testing purposes, click on “Allow anonymous access”:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

Click “OK”, and then click “Apply”.

Open a new browser window and navigate to: http://127.0.0.1:6580
You will see the Thinfinity VirtualUI landing page, and your application published on it. Congrats!

Did you know that you can also use VirtualUI to take WinDev Applications to the web? Take a look at this article to learn how to run Windev apps on any browser.

We want to help our readers to put their MS Access databases on the web. That’s why we offer a fully-featured free 30-day trial with superb technical support.

Microsoft Access is a database management system (DBMS) from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications.

Lots of our clients organize their business or even sell solutions around this great tool. But in times of cloud computing, web, and mobile devices, the reach and the usage of these Windows Desktop-based tools decline. Users require web-based applications, don’t they?

Thinfinity VirtualUI can take your software to the web, and now, your MS Access apps too!

Turn your MS Access application to a Web App

Ready to convert MS Access to web application? First, check that you’re running the latest version of Thinfinity VirtualUI. Then download an example and run Microsoft Access on the browser from the download link below:

cybelesoft.com/files/VirtualUI_Access.zip


NOTE: On a side note, you may need to do this in order for the demo to work.

After you unzip the file, right-click the VirtualUI_Access.accdb file, and click on “Properties”. Check the “Unblock” checkbox, and click “Apply”.

 


 

Let’s review the example given on the ZIP file:

There are two things that you should take a look at from this demo:

  1. the “modVirtualUI” module
  2. Adding the VirtualUIStart method to your Main Form.

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

Both are needed if you want to successfully compile your application with VirtualUI.

The “modVirtualUI” module contains the call to VirtualUI, and is expressed in the following way:

 

 

Now, we need to add the “StartVirtualUI” method to the Main Form of our Database.

Note: “StartVirtualUI” should be one of the first things Microsoft Access loads when it starts up. For this reason, it should be inside the main module of the database.

 

 

In this case, the Main Form is Form_Contact List. Right below the “Form_Load()” method, we are adding the call to “StartVirtualUI”

After you commit these changes, save the Access Database.

 

Now we start the second configuration stage, and it will be as easy as the first one!

Open the Thinfinity VirtualUI Server Manager, navigate to the “Application” tab, and press “Add”:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

In this new window, we’ll configure the Access Database to be published. Below you’ll see an example of how it’s done:

 

 

Let me explain the following fields:

“Name”: The name you want the Web Application to display.

“Program path and file name”: In this case, we are using Office 16, so you’ll have to look for the MSACCESS.exe in the Program Files folder.

“Arguments”: Two things to take into consideration.
“C:\Apps VirtualUI\VirtualUI_Access.accdb”: This is the path of the database you want to load when Access starts.
“/x StartVirtualUI”: This is the name of the macro that calls the “vui.Start”.

Under the “Credentials” tab, configure a user that has read. Then, write permission on both the Program Files folder (where Access is ), and where the database is located:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

And under the Permissions tab, for testing purposes, click on “Allow anonymous access”:

 

Convert your Microsoft Access application to a Web Application

 

Click “OK”, and then click “Apply”.

Open a new browser window and navigate to: http://127.0.0.1:6580
You will see the Thinfinity VirtualUI landing page, and your application published on it. Congrats!

Did you know that you can also use VirtualUI to take WinDev Applications to the web? Take a look at this article to learn how to run Windev apps on any browser.

We want to help our readers to put their MS Access databases on the web. That’s why we offer a fully-featured free 30-day trial with superb technical support.

If you found this article interesting and want to know more about Thinfinity VirtualUI,
you can contact us or schedule a 15-minute demo call with one of our Sales Engineers.

Comments (21)

Bom dia equipe do Cybele
aonde deve ser armazenado o ficheiro do Ms Access?
baixei o exemplo zipado, mais lá não tem a função de bloquear ou desbloquear como mostra este tutorial.

Hello,
I already in the process of conversion. However to convert my real Access database do i have to copy the two objects: modVirtualUI and StartVirtualUI into my real life Access database which i wish to convert.
Using the sample databse, i cant find the Thinfinity VirtualUI Server Manager mentioned
Thank you

Hi Sander! Our tech team will email you to review the steps you followed and give you a hand.
Have a nice day!
Mariana

Hi Mark! I’ll email you to ask you for a phone number. You didn’t share it.
Best regards!
Mariana

Hi Am interested in converting my Microsoft Access Application to a web App. Kindly give me a call.

Hello,
I have followed all instructions and downloaded the sample. However when I launch the msaccess app nothing happens . I only see Please Wait loading.
Any ideas how to solve this?

Hello,
Evaluation of MSAccess application to Web on http://127.0.0.1:6580 worked perfectly well for me, however I have a the following concerns:
1. Can Thinfinity VirtualUI run on Linux Server?
2. Would user always use Thinfinty server to access the hosted application always?
3. How does it work with mobile devices?
Best Regards

Hello Mariana,
Please does it support MS Excel? If yes, is the process the same?
Also how does an update work if the spreadsheet is updated with new things?
Also I hope it can run VBA codes.
Thank you.

Hi Yağmur,
We can help you to evaluate VirtualUI and our Remote Desktop Server and see which one results better for you.
Please click on the chat icon on the lower right corner or send us an email to [email protected]
Have a great day!
Mariana

Hello,
I am interesred in opening my access file on my company network,
with a deeper definition: We are using a portal in our company and I want to add an access database so that every one can see it in a userfriendly way, but I do not know how to open access files in this portal (or in an impossible condition I may use excel files too but I do not know how to embed excel files with macros, sorting filters etc.)
Can you help me?
Best regards,
Yağmur

Hi,
My msAccess app have vba code embedded into.
Will this work with Thinfinity?

Hi Che Mohamad,
Yes, this will work with Thinfinity VirtualUI. If you need any assistance or run into any issue please contact [email protected] so one of our devs can assist you better.

Good day,
I am trying to test the software. it is giving error message “ActiveX component cannot create object”
assist please

Hello, I am having the same issue with MS Access
Run-time error ‘429’: ActiveX component can’t create object
any help pls? Thank you

Hi Marc and Ugboyemi,
This error is most likely related to our libraries failing to register after you installed Thinfinity VirtualUI .
Open cmd ( admin ) and run the following commands :
“REGSVR32 C:\ProgramFiles\Thinfinity\VirtualUI\bin32\Thinfinity.VirtualUI.dll”
“REGSVR32 C:\ProgramFiles\Thinfinity\VirtualUI\bin64\Thinfinity.VirtualUI.dll”
“REGSVR32 C:\ProgramFiles\Thinfinity\VirtualUI\dev\bin32\Thinfinity.VirtualUI.dll”
“REGSVR32 C:\ProgramFiles\Thinfinity\VirtualUI\dev\bin64\Thinfinity.VirtualUI.dll”
Don’t hesitate to send us your questions to [email protected]

Dear Hugo,
Thanks for your comment.
I’ve escalated your issue to our Tech Support team so they can help you to resolve it.
Please expect their email contact later today. If you need a quick resolution you may open a chat session from our website.
Best regards,
Mariana

Hello,
I’ve spent several days testing the sotware with one of our access apps.
Everything runs perfectly except downloading a file.
Can you help?.
Thanks in advance
Hugo Berlinches

Nice Content. My observation tells me that web apps are on the rise, every famous company with a Windows app is looking for development packages to get an HTML5 version of their website.

Hi:
I am interested in moving an Access DB to the web. Please give me a call with details.

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your message.
One of our represents will contact you today, in the meantime, you can download
a fully functional 30 days trial of Thinfinity VirtualUI from the link below:
https://www.cybelesoft.com/thinfinity/virtualui/2-5/
Once you install it you just need to follow this tutorial.

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