copying data from datasheets

[John Welch]

I have a few subforms that display as datasheets. Is there a way to not
allow users to copy and paste that data into some other program, like Excel?
I imagine the solution will be to use continuous forms rather than
datasheets, but I thought I'd ask to see if it's possible to restrict
datasheets.
thanks

 

[John Welch]

sorry about the double post- my news client burped
-john

 

[John Welch]

sorry about the double post- my news client burped
-john

 

[TC]

I suspect you can not stop him doing that with a datasheet.

But why bother trying? A skilled person will always be able to copy
your data out. He can just connect to your running copy of Access, via
automation. He could probably even do it from a simple VBScript
program.

HTH,
TC

 

[Lynn Trapp]

TC is right that a skilled user can probably get around anything you do.
However, you can create an AutoKeys macro and cause the Ctrl+C combination
to pop up a message box that tells the users they cannot copy data from the
database. Then remove the standard menus that allow copying and pasting.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[John Welch]

Great idea, thanks

TC is right that a skilled user can probably get around anything you do.
However, you can create an AutoKeys macro and cause the Ctrl+C combination
to pop up a message box that tells the users they cannot copy data from
the database. Then remove the standard menus that allow copying and
pasting.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[TC]

Yes, good idea

TC

 

[Keith]

you can create an AutoKeys macro and cause the Ctrl+C combination to pop
up a message box that tells the users they cannot copy data from the
database.

Can this be done from code?

 

[TC]

Oops, with one proviso: It's only good if you want to disable ^c
globally, throughout the whole application, in all circumstances.

Say you need to disable it in some places, and not in others. You can
code an appropriate test in the macro, but IIRC, there is no way for
the "false" branch of that test to say: "Oops, I do not need to trap it
this time, just do whatever you would normally do with that keystroke".

TC

 

[Lynn Trapp]

Now that's a question I don't know the answer to, Keith. I'm not sure if
there is a way in code to globally force keystrokes to perform a specific
action. Good question, though.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[TC]

No way to do it globally thru code, unless you can create the macro
thru code.

TC

 

[John Welch]

Lynn, I took your advice and wrote a function that is called by my autokeys
macro when a user types control-c. Just thought I'd share it will everyone:
It works great, and only allows admins to use control-c

Public Function handleControlC()
On Error Resume Next
If IsUserInGroup("admins",CurrentUser()) Then
DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdCopy
Else
MsgBox "You cannot use 'control-c' for copy at this time."
End If
End Function

'the following function was posted by a kind person on the newsgroups
(sorry, don't remember name now)
Public Function IsUserInGroup(strGroup As String, strUser As String) As
Boolean
Dim s As String
On Error Resume Next
s = DBEngine(0).Users(strUser).Groups(strGroup).Name
IsUserInGroup = (Err.Number = 0)
End Function

-thanks to all
-John

 

[TC]

John Welch (remove remove) wrote:

(snip)

'the following function was posted by a kind person on the newsgroups
(sorry, don't remember name now)

TC!

TC

 

[Keith]

No way to do it globally thru code, unless you can create the macro
thru code.

Just wondered, I like to keep my apps macro-free.

 

[TC]

Agreed. I only use one: an AutoKeys macro to suppress the normal ^F
Find throughout the application. That's because I have a custom Find
function (with a proper button) on each findable screen, & the normal
function is not consistent with my custom one.

Cheers,
TC

 

[Lynn Trapp]

Just wondered, I like to keep my apps macro-free.

You and me both. I hate macros. I wouldn't even use the macro that this guy
wanted. The only macro that I would ever allow into an application is,
possibly, an AutoExec macro that opens an initial form, but that's probalbly
never necessary.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[TC]

Another use for macros is an autoexec macro to kick of the code to
check if all the references are still defined. This code must be
written extremely carefully, or it too will fail when any references
are undefined. This code definitely can't be in, or started from, a
form; I don't know whether it can or can't be safely started via the
tools:startup options; but it definitely /can/ be safely started via an
autoexec macro.

Cheers,
TC