Using TerraView 5 with Microsoft Access Database Files



The Microsoft Jet database engine has been used since Windows 95 and was the database engine for *.mdb files created with Microsoft Access. This database enginehas been used by 32-bit applications to connect to Access databases contained in *.mdb files. It is only available for the 32-bit applications and is considered a deprecated product.


Since the release of Office 2007, Microsoft Access supports a new file format with file extension *.accdb. Access 2007 and  the new versions of Microsoft Access are supported by the new database engine called ACE (Access Database Engine). This new engine is available for the 32 and 64-bit versions in:

      https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255

            AccessDatabaseEngine.exe     (32-bit version)
            AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe (64-bit version)


There is a problem with this new engine. The 32-bit and 64-bit versions cannot be installed in the same machine. For example, if you have Office 2007 32-bit installed in your machine and you try to install the ACE 64-bit, a message is sent saying that it is necessary to uninstall the ACE 32 bit version, i.e., uninstall the Office 32-bit.

If you are using the 32-bit version of TerraView 5, it is not necessary to install the ACE 32-bit because TerraView 5 continues to use the old database engine that is already installed in your system (it comes with your Windows).

If you want to use the 64-bit version of TerraView 5 and there is no Office installed in your machine(Office 2007 or later), execute  AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe

If you have a 32-bit Office installed in your machine (Office 2007 or later), and you want to use the 64-bit version of TerraView 5, there is a workaround to solve the problem of the 32 and 64-bit of ACE co-exist in the same machine:

1. Download the AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe from

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255

    at  your prefered directory for downloads, usually  C:\Users\<user-name>\Downloads

2. Open a Prompt  DOS window and make sure you are at the right directory C:\Users\<user-name>\Downloads 

3. Install the ACE 64-bit from the command line with the /passive argument:
  
   $> .\AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe /passive

4. From the command line call the regedit editor and say yes to allow changes:

   $> regedit


5. Check the 64-bit registry key on the path bellow:
      “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilePaths”

It contains the “mso.dll” registry value;then you need to rename to for example "mso_orig.dll" or delete the value after installing the 64-bit version of the Microsoft Access Database Engine.

Now you can start a 32-bit Office application. Note that the “mso.dll” registry value will already be present if a 64-bit version of MS Office is installed. In this case the value should not be deleted or renamed.

Reference:  http://techblog.aimms.com/2014/10/27/installing-32-bit-and-64-bit-microsoft-access-drivers-next-to-each-other/