Running a Thick Client on a computer runs the client software components, plus the application server software components, and connects via ODBC to an APM database, usually on a separate computer.

APM Product direction is to phase out the requirement of running a thick client in admin mode for administrative tasks and customizing the application. 

Important features such as sharing configurations have been made accessible on the Smart Client; however, there are still a few features that are still only available with thick client:  

• Create and modify custom reports
• Use setup and preview modes while creating security profiles
• Customize the object model and user interface
• Delete other user's configurations

See Also

VSTS - 191592 - Allow modeling reports, forms and maybe even schema from the Smart Client