Access .mdb attachments not allowed by Hotmail and University emai

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Hi

I have developed some simple tools for a course I am on at University.

I wish to share them with some of my class.

Neither the University email system nor Hotmail will allow Microsoft Access
..mdb attachments.

Why ?

Is there a sensible workaround ?

Thanks

Jay
 
Is there a sensible workaround ?

Yeah that's a pain in the rear. If they're closing for mdb's why not close
for .doc and .xls since they can also run code.

I usually:
- use an alternate email account with a company that allows it
- rename the files to .txt and ask people to name them back to .mdb
- zip them as some ISPs allows these files to pass
- upload them somewhere and send people a link instead of the file (smaller
email as well)



Jesper Fjølner
 
Jesper

I shall try some of the possible combinations suggested.

Yes I too agree why only prohibit .mdb suffixes.

The interesting thing is Hotmail does not allow it either which is
Microsoft's own supported product.

Thanks

Jay
 
If you're going to change the file extension, I'd use jpg (say), not
txt. If they double-click the txt file it will open in notepad (or
wordpad) and they might accidentally change it & save. Whereas if they
double-click the jpg, the PC's jpg viewer will reject it, but more
importanly, there is no chance that the viewer will /change/ it.

HTH,
TC
 
If you're going to change the file extension, I'd use jpg (say), not
txt. If they double-click the txt file it will open in notepad (or
wordpad) and they might accidentally change it & save. Whereas if they
double-click the jpg, the PC's jpg viewer will reject it, but more
importanly, there is no chance that the viewer will /change/ it.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, good points.
As for the zip-method - I agree it's the best. But with some people it takes
some explaining just to tell them how to unzip it (incredibly).
 
Hi Guys

Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried changing the extension to a .txt

Unfortunately the system is very clever it adds the .mdb at the end so for
example you end up with -

file1.txt.mdb

I agree if an extension was to be chosen another non text file extension
would be best.

It looks like the system will whatever extension add a .mdb as final
extension.

The ZIP method works for techinacally minded people but in a Uni class it
may only cause more problems.

Is anyone from Hotmail able to offer any reasons why they refuse to allow
..mdb extensions ?

Also has Microsoft got any thoughts on this one themselves and is there a
service pack that will fix things ?

Jay
 
Jay said:
I tried changing the extension to a .txt

Unfortunately the system is very clever it adds the .mdb at the end so for
example you end up with -

file1.txt.mdb
Click to expand...


You have set your PC to not display file extensions. So it displays
"file.mdb" as "file", on the screen. When you change "file" to
"file.txt", on the screen, this does not delete the invisible ".mdb"
extension - that extension is retained. So you get "file.txt.mdb", not
"file.txt".

To fix this:
Open a file,
click Tool : Folder Options,
select the View tab,
scroll down to "Hide extensions for known file types",
un-tick that option,
OK out, then
try again.

HTH,
TC
 
TC said:
Jay said:
I tried changing the extension to a .txt

Unfortunately the system is very clever it adds the .mdb at the end
so for example you end up with -

file1.txt.mdb
Click to expand...


You have set your PC to not display file extensions. So it displays
"file.mdb" as "file", on the screen. When you change "file" to
"file.txt", on the screen, this does not delete the invisible ".mdb"
extension - that extension is retained. So you get "file.txt.mdb", not
"file.txt". [snip]
Click to expand...

Which is the problem with changing file extensions to get through AV filters.
The user at the other end has to know how to change a file name. It is
surprising how many people have no idea how to do this and Microsoft's REALLY
stupid idea of hiding file extensions by default makes it a much bigger problem
than it should be.

I have also started to see AV systems that look inside of ZIP files so it might
not be long before that method is compromised as well. It really is getting
difficult to send files to people any more. Some of the safety features being
implemented are well-intentioned, but they really do assume a higher working
knowledge of computers than what the average "user" possesses.
 
Yes, I agree absolutely.

If a user struggles to understand file extensions, what's the point of
hiding them? This will only cause him greater confusion. And it
completely removes the possibilty, that he will ever cotton-on. ("Aha,
that bit ".txt" on the end, must mean a text file!) Conversely, if a
user /does/ understand file extensions, he also understands the risks
involved in turning them off, so he instantly turns them back on! So
there is no class of user, beginner or experienced, who benefits from
turning them off, IMHO.

Yes, there are definitely AV systems that look inside zip files. I'd
forgotten that. I wouldn't be surprised, if most of them do that now.
Maybe there's a niche market here: "same-day hand delivery of computer
files, by our highly trained world-wide team of human couriers" !

Cheers,
TC
 
Hi Guys

Everything we are all saying points to one thing that genuine users of
Microsoft products are being penalised by sometimes 'power crazy' system
administrators who are over zealous.

Most people wish to simply exchange simple files and to be extremely honest
the files are usually developed on University systems and when loaded they
will be checked by the system virus checker.

In my case I religiously check every file on the up to date virus checker on
the University server if I develop the file at home before I upload it.

Sure there are a few looneys using viruses in denial of service attacks but
these problems aren't new and it's part of the stress and job that
administrators must endure. If you don't like the cooking pot get out of it
but don't by being over zealous prevent study and work going on.

I was a system administrator on secure UNIX systems for nearly 15 years. You
have no friends or social life and no one talks to you because they think you
will come out with gibberish.

Life is a little more interesting now since I committed to Microsoft and
business applications.

With no offence to any of you guys (whose answers are superb) I am going to
post this same thing again requesting a comment from a Microsoft MVP and
someone from Hotmail because I think they owe the millions of users in the
Microsoft world an answer as to why the first step is to deny the fiel
attachment instead of applying a virus checker to it and passing it if clean.

Thanks again I learnt somethings from you guys about file extensions.

Jay
 
TC

Hi

I have just tried the suggestion you made about trying to display file
extensions.

I cannot seem to get the sequence . I do not see Folder Options.

Can you please confirm the sequence.

I shall try this again at home.

Sorry to ask again

Thanks

Jay
 
But it's nothing unique to Microsoft. I use a free web host for my
website. They have recently disllowed zip files, because someone was
hosting zipped virus files in a free account. This is a Unix server -
nothing to do with Hotmail or Microsoft.

TC
 
Why is the MVP Jeff Conrad, posting downloadable cracks for Microsoft Access
Security?

Chris


<blah blah>
 
TC

Thanks this works but like we all say it is fiddliy for the receipient.

Let's hope that common sense will prevail amongst administrators and that
UNIX vendors bashing Microsoft will reduce. (fat chance)

Jay
 
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