Microsoft® Access® 2010 Programmer's Reference

Appendix D. 64-Bit Access

For the first time in the history of Microsoft Office, the Microsoft Office 2010 system is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This is a significant move on the part of Microsoft to take full advantage of the larger memory space offered in the 64-bit operating system environment. This appendix discusses the pros and cons of both versions and gives you better insight into which version is best for your needs.

INTRODUCING THE 64-BIT VERSION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE 2010

With the introduction of the new 64-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010, a new version of Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, known as Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications 7.0 (VBA 7), is being released to work with both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. This appendix addresses only the 64-bit changes. Using the 32-bit version of Office enables you to use existing solutions built into previous versions of Microsoft Office without modification.

With VBA 7, you must update existing Windows Application Programming Interface (API) statements (such as Declare statements) to work with the 64-bit version. You must also update address pointers and display window handles in user-defined types that are used by the API declaration statements.

Note

This discussion will primarily center on the impact of the 64-bit version as it applies to Microsoft Access 2010 and its application of VBA. But, installation of either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions is an all or nothing proposition and applies to all ...