Creating user-level security with MS Access file on a network

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This is a fairly remedial question. I need to create user-level security on a
database that exists on a network. I have only two groups- those who can
modify the database and those who cannot. While I have successfully used the
the security wizard to create a secure database, I cannot seem to open the
network-based database from any computer other than the one where I created
the security levels. I have not found my problem addressed on the Microsoft
support website. What am I doing wrong? Any advisement on this matter is
appreciated.
 
You need to make the mdw that was created, available to other computers.
Put it in the same folder as the backend mdb. Then give each user a desktop
shortcut. The wizard made one for you. As long as everyone has a typical
install of Access, you should be able to just copy your shortcut to them.
 
I'm still not having any luck. The security mdw was created in the same
folder (the networked one) as the backend mdb. I tried pasting the shortcut
in the network folder and then putting it on the desktop of the other
computers. When I try and open the file on the other computers, I get an
error message that I don't have the necessary permissions. Also, I just
realized that I am working between Access 2003 on the computer I used to
secure the database and Access 2002 on the computer I am testing it on. Could
this be the problem?

I apologize for a complete lack of familiarity with this area of Access.
Although I've used it for years, I've never used any of its security
functions. Thanks for the help.
 
jss, when you say the db won't open up. are you saying that the security you
created using the wizard is not stoppting and asking for a login, or are you
getting the login screen and you can't get past there because the password
isn't accepting!.

I would be sure that your pointing to the correct mdw. check the db by
bypassing the security. Hold down the shift key and you can go right into
the db. check tools > security > workgroup admin and be sure your pointing
to the common system.mdw. then be sure you shortcut points with the
appropriate argument "
should look something like this:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE" "s:\stars_dev.mdb"
/wrkgrp "s:\dev_security.mdw"

Hope that gives some additional help. Security can be a pain (-:

/Jeff

I'm still not having any luck. The security mdw was created in the same
folder (the networked one) as the backend mdb. I tried pasting the shortcut
in the network folder and then putting it on the desktop of the other
computers. When I try and open the file on the other computers, I get an
error message that I don't have the necessary permissions. Also, I just
realized that I am working between Access 2003 on the computer I used to
secure the database and Access 2002 on the computer I am testing it on. Could
this be the problem?

I apologize for a complete lack of familiarity with this area of Access.
Although I've used it for years, I've never used any of its security
functions. Thanks for the help.
You need to make the mdw that was created, available to other computers.
Put it in the same folder as the backend mdb. Then give each user a desktop
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
Click to expand...
 
Please post what is in that shortcut (the target line). Also what username
are you trying to login as (On the other computers).

Provide more specific details/errors please.
 
The following is what my shortcuts targets:

"\\Anthro84\c$\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2003\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE"
"Z:\TONT PHOTOS Database.mdb" /WRKGRP "Z:\Security.mdw"

On the other computers, I cannot even get to the point where I log on. That
is, to answer your question as well as Jeff's, I double click on the shortcut
(that I pasted into the networked folder) and I get a message that I do not
have the permissions necessary to open the database and that my system
administrator needs to give me those necessary permissions.

In looking at the shortcut target above, however, I wonder if the problem
isn't that I am trying to open the mdw shortcut in Acess 2003 when I only
have Access 2002 on the machines I am trying to open it on. Do you think it
would help if I went in and modified the target on the computers with Access
2002 to reflect the 2002 status. Also, and I know this is very remedial, how
do I go about making a new shortcut to the mdw on the other computers. I
tried just making a shortcut the standard way (right clicking on the
Security.mdw file) while logged on to the other computers but that did not
work and opening that shortcut did not allow me to access the secure mdb.

Please let me know if I need to give you more details. Thanks,
Jeanne
 
jss said:
The following is what my shortcuts targets:

"\\Anthro84\c$\Program Files\Microsoft Office
2003\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE" "Z:\TONT PHOTOS Database.mdb" /WRKGRP
"Z:\Security.mdw"
Click to expand...

I would modify this target to
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2003\Office11\msaccess.exe" ....

Also, you are better off using UNC pathnames, rather than relying on users
having the same drive mappings. So \\servername\share\...

You could work on getting this working and then consider....
In addition, it is recommended that you split the database so that just the
backend (tables only) sits on the server. Give each user a copy of the
frontend on their workstation (it would contain links to the backend). Then
your target would change to
"path to msaccess.exe "c:\path to frontend" /wrkgrp
"\\servername\share\...security.mdw"
In looking at the shortcut target above, however, I wonder if the
problem isn't that I am trying to open the mdw shortcut in Acess 2003
when I only have Access 2002 on the machines I am trying to open it
on. Do you think it would help if I went in and modified the target
on the computers with Access 2002 to reflect the 2002 status.
Click to expand...

Actually the security.mdw file isn't the problem here. On the 2002
machines, you will have to modify the path to msaccess.exe to reflect its
location on that machine (do a search for it). I'll guarantee it won't be
beneath c:\Program Files\Microsoft office 2003

Also,
and I know this is very remedial, how do I go about making a new
shortcut to the mdw on the other computers.
Click to expand...

I would search for msaccess.exe on the computer (start, search). Right
click on it and 'send to desktop as shortcut'. Then go to the desktop and
right-click on the shortcut and choose properties. You'll be on the target
line and it will have the path to msaccess.exe there. Edit that line as
follows:
Leave the path as is.
Put double quotes around the path
Move to the end of the line and type
<space> "<Path to mdb>" <space> /wrkgrp <space> "<path to mdw>"
 
Jeff,
I just responded to Joan and answered some of your questions.

When I went into the database on my computer and went to
tools\security\workgroup admin, I got the following path:

C:\Documents and Settings\jcs86\Application Data\Microsoft\Access\System2.mdw

What is this System2.mdw file? Could that be the problem? System2.mdw is not
in the common folder. I did a search for it, though, and did not find it on
the computer at all.

Thanks,
Jeanne

Jeff O via AccessMonster.com said:
jss, when you say the db won't open up. are you saying that the security you
created using the wizard is not stoppting and asking for a login, or are you
getting the login screen and you can't get past there because the password
isn't accepting!.

I would be sure that your pointing to the correct mdw. check the db by
bypassing the security. Hold down the shift key and you can go right into
the db. check tools > security > workgroup admin and be sure your pointing
to the common system.mdw. then be sure you shortcut points with the
appropriate argument "
should look something like this:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE" "s:\stars_dev.mdb"
/wrkgrp "s:\dev_security.mdw"

Hope that gives some additional help. Security can be a pain (-:

/Jeff

I'm still not having any luck. The security mdw was created in the same
folder (the networked one) as the backend mdb. I tried pasting the shortcut
in the network folder and then putting it on the desktop of the other
computers. When I try and open the file on the other computers, I get an
error message that I don't have the necessary permissions. Also, I just
realized that I am working between Access 2003 on the computer I used to
secure the database and Access 2002 on the computer I am testing it on. Could
this be the problem?

I apologize for a complete lack of familiarity with this area of Access.
Although I've used it for years, I've never used any of its security
functions. Thanks for the help.
You need to make the mdw that was created, available to other computers.
Put it in the same folder as the backend mdb. Then give each user a desktop
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
support website. What am I doing wrong? Any advisement on this
matter is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
jss said:
When I went into the database on my computer and went to
tools\security\workgroup admin, I got the following path:

C:\Documents and Settings\jcs86\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access\System2.mdw

What is this System2.mdw file? Could that be the problem?
Click to expand...

No, that is just the workgroup file you are joined to by default. You
should leave it as is - it allows you to open unsecured databases. Your
shortcut is over-riding this default and using your secure mdw, which is
what you want.
 
Thank you. This project is temporarily on hold today (I'm not an IT person,
can you tell?) but I will get back to you about how it worked out. Thanks
again. - Jeanne
 
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