Workgroup weird problems

[gdonald20]

Hi

I have and Access 2000 front and backend which was created under the
corresponding workgroup for this project.

When i click my shortcut for this project it correctly loads up the
workgroup prompting for a user and password.

I was trying to make another backend also related to this project, so using
the workgroup administrator i joined the workgroup. Then i created a blank
database and began making the tables. Just for peace of mind i looked at
Tools, Security to check i had the correct users, groups etc which i did.
Once i was finished i closed the database and as a check i tried to invoke
this backend without using the shortcut.

Unfortunately this backend opens and doesn't prompt for any security.

I am really confused as to why this has happened as the user Administrator
in my workgroup has no permissions and has a password set also.

If i proceed to look at the Tools, Security in this backend and check the
ownership of the database and table etc, it says they are owned by Unknown.
It is almost as if the database has lost it's link to the workgroup it was
created under.

Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Gillian

 

[BruceM]

Responses inline.

Hi

I have and Access 2000 front and backend which was created under the
corresponding workgroup for this project.

When i click my shortcut for this project it correctly loads up the
workgroup prompting for a user and password.

What is the shortcut? Does it include the path to the Access.exe file and
to the workgroup file?

I was trying to make another backend also related to this project, so
using
the workgroup administrator i joined the workgroup. Then i created a blank
database and began making the tables. Just for peace of mind i looked at
Tools, Security to check i had the correct users, groups etc which i did.
Once i was finished i closed the database and as a check i tried to invoke
this backend without using the shortcut.

If you do not specify otherwise Access opens a file using the default
workgroup file (System.mdw). If you have properly secured the database with
user-level security you will not be able to open the mdb file except by way
of the appropriate workgroup file.
The workgroup file identifies who you are. The permissions are stored in
the database. If you do not specify otherwise you are the Admin user, and
System.mdw is the default workgroup file. Unless you have changed
System.mdw (not recommended), it has only the Admin user, who is a member of
the Admins group and of the Users group. Unless you specify otherwise in
the database (mdb) file, the Users group has full permissions to the
database.
Best practice is to create a new workgroup file, and to join that workgroup
as needed for particular mdb (or mde) files. Details for securing an access
database have been well documented. This link will show you several sources
of information:
http://www.geocities.com/jacksonmacd/
I got the most from Jack MacDonald's article, but you should review the
other links, particularly the Security FAQ.

Unfortunately this backend opens and doesn't prompt for any security.

This is probably because the Admin user is a member of the Users group,
which has full permissions.

I am really confused as to why this has happened as the user Administrator
in my workgroup has no permissions and has a password set also.

There is no default user Administrator as such. There is an Admin user, who
far from having any kind of special status could better be referred to as
"anybody at all". There is also an Admins group. It is not clear what you
mean.

 

[Joan Wild]

Hi

I was trying to make another backend also related to this project, so using
the workgroup administrator i joined the workgroup. Then i created a blank
database and began making the tables. Just for peace of mind i looked at
Tools, Security to check i had the correct users, groups etc which i did.
Once i was finished i closed the database and as a check i tried to invoke
this backend without using the shortcut.

Unfortunately this backend opens and doesn't prompt for any security.

I am really confused as to why this has happened as the user Administrator
in my workgroup has no permissions and has a password set also.

But the permissions are stored in the mdb, not the mdw. You created a new mdb and then some tables, but did you set any permissions on those objects? Specifically, you need to remove permissions for the Users Group.

If i proceed to look at the Tools, Security in this backend and check the
ownership of the database and table etc, it says they are owned by Unknown.

You have opened it using system.mdw, and that workgroup has no knowledge of the username you used to create the mdb/tables. Therefore it lists the owner as unknown.

It is almost as if the database has lost it's link to the workgroup it was
created under.

A database doesn't have a 'link' to a workgroup file. You can set security such that a mdb can be opened by a number of mdw files, or only one. The workgroup file controls the session of Access. The database's permissions determine if a user in that workgroup file has permission or not.