Open DB not Exclusive Mode

[Guest]

I have a DB that resides on company shared drive. There are only two users.
I make all the design changes as necessary. However, when other user opens
the DB it automatically opens in Exclusive mode and locks me out from design
changes. A shortcut key is used to open the DB. The DB is already set for
shared mode. I know the DB can be opened by opening the Access program first
then selecting File Open the select Open on dropdown list instead of Open
Exclusive or Read-only. How can we get the shortcut key to open in the OPEN
mode only?

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Are you assuming that it's being opened Exclusively because you can't save
design changes? That's the way Access has been since Access 2000: you cannot
make design changes unless you've opened the database exclusively. However,
you should never have to make design changes to the production database.

Your application should be split into a front-end (containing the queries,
forms, reports, macros and modules), linked to a back-end (containing the
tables and relationships). Only the back-end should be on the server: each
user should have his/her own copy of the front-end, ideally on his/her hard
drive. In this way, you can make design changes to your heart's content
without impacting anyone else. Once you're done with the changes, you simply
give each user a new copy of the front-end.

 

[Guest]

Your right. The database should be split. I was trying to avoid since there
is only one primary user. The database was designed long ago but I have the
need to add performance measure reports (charts) that summarize the data.
There are no major development changes being done on this DB.