Access security behavour

[DaveJ]

I have several unsecured Access databases and one secured DB, the secured db
is joined to security.mdw and the Unsecured are joined to system.mdw.

After I log on to the secured DB, all unsecured DB's request user name and
password. on cheking the work group of the unsecured DB's They have changed
to Security.mdw. If I change the unsecured DB workgroup to system.mdw, the
secured DB does not request user & password but errors with " You do not have
permissions to use the 'xxxx.mdb' object have your system administrator..."

If I then create an empty database and join it to Security.mdw close it and
then open the secure DB all works OK again (except the unsecured are now
secured again).
I can create shortcuts to the DB's (access path, DB path, /wrkgrp work group
path)
and all DB's work as should do.

Does anyone Know If this is the norm for Access to change the security for
all DB's when the work group for one is changed or have I got some weird
config. in operation.

MS office 2003 with SP3 & XP Pro SP3

 

[Keith Wilby]

I have several unsecured Access databases and one secured DB, the secured
db
is joined to security.mdw and the Unsecured are joined to system.mdw.

No they're not. Your MS Access session is joined to a workgroup, the
default being system.mdw. You should leave this default setting and group
alone.

After I log on to the secured DB, all unsecured DB's request user name and
password. on cheking the work group of the unsecured DB's They have
changed
to Security.mdw.

No they haven't, what you're seeing is the *default* workgroup which you
have changed to Security.mdw. As previously stated, you should leave the
default as an unmodified system.mdw.

If I change the unsecured DB workgroup to system.mdw, the
secured DB does not request user & password but errors with " You do not
have
permissions to use the 'xxxx.mdb' object have your system
administrator..."

This is normal behaviour because you have joined the default workgroup. It
goes to prove that your secure db has been secured correctly.

If I then create an empty database and join it to Security.mdw close it
and
then open the secure DB all works OK again (except the unsecured are now
secured again).
I can create shortcuts to the DB's (access path, DB path, /wrkgrp work
group
path)
and all DB's work as should do.

Does anyone Know If this is the norm for Access to change the security for
all DB's when the work group for one is changed or have I got some weird
config. in operation.

Nothing is being changed in your un-secured dbs. Security authentication is
always performed first, even when you're joined to system.mdw, it just does
it silently because it's wide-open.

Your shortcut method with the /wrkgrp switch is the correct one so, in a
nutshell, you're doing everything right.

Have a read of the FAQs, link on my web site.

Keith.
www.keithwilby.co.uk

 

[DaveJ]

Thanks Keith
Not what I expected, but most helpfull, I now have a much better
understandin of how it works.

 

[Keith Wilby]

Thanks Keith
Not what I expected, but most helpfull, I now have a much better
understandin of how it works.

It's a tricky topic if you're new to it but once the penny drops you'll
wonder what all the fuss was about. The FAQ is essential reading and you'll
see time and again on this group the advice that it's "all killer and no
filler". You must follow all steps in the order stated, omitting nothing no
matter how trivial it might seem.

Good luck.

Keith.
www.keithwilby.co.uk