Unlocking MDE file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Garabito
  • Start date Start date
J

Jack Garabito

Hello all,

I am deployed and inherited a database file that seems to have the menus
hidden or blocked, when I open it up it goes straight to a dashboard with
some buttons and reports. I want to make some changes and to the reports and
queries, but cant see an option to get to the main menu. Is there a way to
open the toolbars on an .mde file? Is there another way to have
tables/queries/reports to show?

It would make life easier at the company!

SSG Garabito.
 
You cannot do much to change an MDE. You really need to have the source .mdb
to make changes to the design of a database and its objects.

As far as I know, you can add a table and add/modify/delete queries. Beyond
that I don't think you can do much with the MDE

John Spencer
Access MVP 2002-2005, 2007-2008
The Hilltop Institute
University of Maryland Baltimore County
 
Unlocking MDE file> "Jack Garabito said:
Hello all,
Click to expand...
I am deployed and inherited a database file that seems to have the menus
hidden or blocked, when I open it up it goes straight to a dashboard with
and queries, but cant see an option to get to the main menu. Is there a >
way to open the toolbars on an .mde file? Is there another way to have
tables/queries/reports to show?
Click to expand...
It would make life easier at the company!
Click to expand...

An mde file is a compressed and compiled version of an mdb file and is
intended for the end-user and *not* the developer. You can't make design
changes to an mde file, nor can you view any of its code. You need the mdb
file from which the mde was created. If you don't have that then you face a
reverse-engineering task to re-create the mdb.

From the help:

Saving your Access database as an MDE file prevents the following actions:
a.. Viewing, modifying, or creating forms, reports, or modules in Design
view.
b.. Adding, deleting, or changing references to object libraries or
databases.
c.. Changing code- an MDE file contains no source code.
d.. Importing or exporting forms, reports, or modules. However, tables,
queries, data access pages, and macros can be imported from or exported to
non-MDE databases.
Keith.
www.keithwilby.co.uk
 
You can google and find programs that will decompile the mde file. The best
thing to do is never use an mde file in the first place unless you think you
have users who would be changing your files.
 
Unlocking MDE fileIn addition to what everyone else said, if the db is split, so there is a back end file, you can open that and access the tables, and perform queries, and design forms and reports there.
Damon

Hello all,

I am deployed and inherited a database file that seems to have the menus hidden or blocked, when I open it up it goes straight to a dashboard with some buttons and reports. I want to make some changes and to the reports and queries, but cant see an option to get to the main menu. Is there a way to open the toolbars on an .mde file? Is there another way to have tables/queries/reports to show?

It would make life easier at the company!

SSG Garabito.
 
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