Can't see updates, different version

[Mary]

I designed a database in Access 97 because some users still have that
version. Users who open the database with Access 2002 aren't seeing design
changes I make - sometimes for more than a day. I make the changes after
hours when I have exclusive access to the database. I have both versions
installed and can see the changes in the old version but cannot see them when
I open it in the new version. Is there a fix or solution for this? Do you
know why there is a delay. Users are on a shared server.

Thank you,
Mary

 

[Ken Sheridan]

Mary:

From what you say it sounds like your users are all opening the same file on
the server. Right? If so this is not the best way of going about things. A
better solution is to split the database into front and back ends, the former
containing the forms, reports, queries etc, the latter just the tables. The
front end contains links to the tables. The built in database splitter
wizard will split the file for you in this way.

The back end, which would be in Access 97 format in your case, would then be
installed on the server, and separate copies of the front end on each user's
local machine. The individual copies of the front ends can be in Access 97
or 2002 format to suit each user. With this set up you can make design
changes to the front end at any time as you'll be using your own master copy
on your local machine. Copies of this can then be distributed to users over
the network to replace their current versions. In fact there is no reason
why each user cannot have differently designed front ends, so if some users
don't need the full functionality of the main front end they can be provided
with a simplified version.

Changes to the back end would be made as at present when you have exclusive
access to it.

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England