Microsoft now makes the Developer Extensions free to anyone who owns a copy of Office 2007 Access. The Access 2007 Runtime is now a free download. If you have never heard of or used the Access runtime version then I recommend reading What is the Access Runtime Version? (Click Here)

 The Access 2007 Developer Extensions provide packaging and deployment tools and licensing and distribution agreements to make it easier for developers to bring solutions to market. Whether you are working in a small business or a large enterprise, as a third-party or an internal developer, the Access 2007 Developer Extensions can facilitate the deployment and management of Access 2007 solutions.

Question: Are there any special considerations when using the Access runtime to run my database?

Answer: The Access 2007 Runtime is, in essence, Office Access 2007 with a few key features disabled.

A user who has the Access 2007 Runtime installed instead of the full version of Access can open and run an Access application but cannot see the Navigation Pane or switch the view of any Access object to Design view.

 You will need to be sure that  provide:

• User Interface: At a minimum, every Access 2007 application destined for an Access Runtime environment must include a user interface object that enables the user to navigate through the application. This object might be a customized Navigation Pane, a custom Office Fluent Ribbon, or a startup form—that is, a form that helps the user navigate through the forms and reports that make up your application.
• Error Handling: It is always good programming practice to handle errors that might occur in VBA code, but when users work with the application in an Access Runtime environment, such error handling becomes crucial. Every procedure in an application should have, at a minimum, a basic On Error GoTo label error handler.

Additional reading: 

Basics for Building Access 2007 Runtime-Based Solutions
Summary: Find out how to prepare your application for use with the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime.

How to: Create a Shortcut Menu for a Form, Form Control, or Report

FREE ribbon tools for Access 2007 and 2010

 Question: How can I test to be sure that my database is ready for use with the Access 2007 runtme?

 Answer: Test your database in runtime mode on your development PC.

Simulating the Access Runtime Environment from Full Access

Additional reading: 

Basics for Building Access 2007 Runtime-Based Solutions
Summary: Find out how to prepare your application for use with the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime.

Question: How do I deploy my Access 2007 application with the Access 2007 runtime included? 

Answer: Create a deployment package.

There are several option avaialable.

• Microsoft includes in the Access 2007 Developer Extentions a Packaging Solution Wizard add-in. This is a very basic solution.  
• Use a Third-party Installer. There are even some very good free one.

Using a Third-party Installer

Free INNO Setup installer

With this script the innitial download is far smaller in size for the end user that already has Runtime installed. he script has been put together using code snippets found on different forums along with bits I did myself, so thanks go to everyone.

This script will check to see if the user has either Access 2003, AccessRT 2003, Access 2007 or AccessRT 2007 installed.

If no access is detected, it will automatically download your Access 2003 runtime files from your web server and install them before continuing with installing your mde.

If access 2007 is detected, the end user will be prompted that functionality may differ (This can be changed)

If access 2003 is detected, the installation will continue.

The script for the free INNO Setup installer that can be download ed from HERE on this site.

Other Products

A very popular commerial product is Sage Key (Click here)

Using the Microsoft Package Solution Wizard add-in. 

 The Package Solution Wizard is an add-in that is available as part of the Access 2007 Developer Extensions. It provides a simple way to bundle and deploy Office Access 2007 database applications. The wizard guides you through the steps that are required to bundle stand-alone Access 2007 applications into deployment packages. You can use the Package Solution Wizard to include the Access 2007 Runtime in your packages and to create shortcuts that invoke the appropriate Access file. The output of the Package Solution Wizard is a Windows Installer (.msi) Setup file that guides users through the installation of your Access application.

Additional Reading: 

Introducing the Access 2007 Developer Extensions and Runtime
this includes links to download the Developer Extensions and Runtime

Summary: Find out how to use the Package Solution Wizard to build and distribute solutions that include the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime.

Trusted Locations

If you use an VBA code in your database, it is importatnt to be sure that you add the folders used by your application  to the  trusted locations list.

See: Trust Center in Access 2007 and 2010 

Question: I have installed the Access 2007 Developer Extensions. When I click the Microsoft Office Button, I don't see the new Developer item. Where do I find it?
 

Answer: You may need to manually enable/re-enable the Developer Extensions in the Acess options.

 Steps: Office Button--> Access Options--> Add-ins-->Manage: COM Add-ins--Go...-->Check Microsoft Office Access Developer Extensions COM Add-in-->Ok-->Close Access Options.

Question: How do I add an add-in to a Microsoft Office Access 2007 deployment package created by using the Package Solution Wizard?
 

Answer:

The Package Solution Wizard makes it easy to create a deployment package that contains your application, the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime, and additional files. However, the Package Solution Wizard does not support deploying additional programs with your application.

See: Adding Programs to Access 2007 Deployment Packages

This article describes how to modify a deployment package that you created by using the Package Solution Wizard to deploy an additional program when the user installs your application. To demonstrate this, you will add the Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS Add-in for 2007 Microsoft Office system programs to an existing deployment package created by using the Package Solution Wizard.

Additional Resources:

What is the Access Runtime Version?

Basics for Building Access 2007 Runtime-Based Solutions

 How to: Create a Shortcut Menu for a Form, Form Control, or Report