Change password in MDE file

E

Ed

Hello!

1.
I have created an MDE file and have disabled all the menus, standard
toolbars, shortcut keys, etc. The MDE is a front-end to a secured
back-end database. The person who will use the MDE needs to be able to
change his/her password and holding shift at the password prompt is
too complicated for them. Is there any way to access the "change
password" window from VBA or macro. I want to remind you that I have
disabled full menus from the start-up options. The database is in
Access2002.

2.
For my second question on the same project: Both the front-end and the
back-end are on a shared network drive and the person will access them
from his workstation with a shortcut. ex:
\\server\sharedfolder\database.mdb /wrkgrp
\\server\sharedfolder\users.mdw /user user_name

I could give the person the front-end to be used locally but by
keeping all files on the network drive, there is only one place, only
one version to change, etc. The network is pretty fast and I have not
noticed any advantages to using a local front-end. Is this
recommended? Any advantages to using local front-ends?

3.
I just thought of another question: How can I force exclusive access
to the back end database? I have read something about exclusive linked
tables but I am not sure how to accomplish this. If I put /excl in the
shortcut for the front-end that only opens the front-end exclusively
and not the back-end, right?

Sorry for the multiple questions. Thanks to you guys and to google
newsgroups I keep getting better every day.

Ed
 
L

Lynn Trapp

Ed said:
Hello!

1.
I have created an MDE file and have disabled all the menus, standard
toolbars, shortcut keys, etc. The MDE is a front-end to a secured
back-end database. The person who will use the MDE needs to be able to
change his/her password and holding shift at the password prompt is
too complicated for them. Is there any way to access the "change
password" window from VBA or macro. I want to remind you that I have
disabled full menus from the start-up options. The database is in
Access2002.
Click to expand...

Create your own custom menu that has access to the User Group Accounts
screen and set that menu as the menu for your menu/switchboard form.
2.
For my second question on the same project: Both the front-end and the
back-end are on a shared network drive and the person will access them
from his workstation with a shortcut. ex:
\\server\sharedfolder\database.mdb /wrkgrp
\\server\sharedfolder\users.mdw /user user_name

I could give the person the front-end to be used locally but by
keeping all files on the network drive, there is only one place, only
one version to change, etc. The network is pretty fast and I have not
noticed any advantages to using a local front-end. Is this
recommended? Any advantages to using local front-ends?
Click to expand...

The biggest problem with putting the front end on the server is corruption.
It is less likely that the local copy of the frontend will corrupt.
3.
I just thought of another question: How can I force exclusive access
to the back end database? I have read something about exclusive linked
tables but I am not sure how to accomplish this. If I put /excl in the
shortcut for the front-end that only opens the front-end exclusively
and not the back-end, right?
Click to expand...

I've never seen that done, but someone else may have information for you
there.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Security FAQ: http://support.microsoft.com/support/access/content/secfaq.asp
 
E

Ed

I do have a custom toolbar, and I should have thought of having custom
menus also.

I am not worried about corruption because the database will not be
used that much. It will only be used once every 6 months or so to
generate some reports and even if it does get corrupted I can easily
replace it from the backup folder. The most important of the
front-ends is an MDE so it should be fairly reliable. The people that
will handle the front-ends are not access savy and sending them a new
MDE every time there is a change will be confusing.

Thanks Lynn!

Ed
 
E

Ed

Hey Lynn,

I modified the MDE file to include another custom toolbar icon for the
"group and user accounts" so that the person can change the password,
but for some reason that button is not being displayed.

In the MDE I have disabled all the start-up options (no window, no
status bar, no changes to toolbars, etc).

It seems that if I show the database window, then the button also
shows up and I can change the password. If the database window is
hidden in the start-up options, then the "user accounts" button
disappears from the toolbar.

I am using access 2002. Is there a workaround to hide the database
windows and still be able to access the user accounts window.

Thanks,

Ed
 
E

Ed

Yes, it was part of the custom toolbar property but I removed it from
the form property and now I display it for all the forms, just like a
standard access toolbar. The button is still not being displayed.

My assumption that the toolbar icon was linked to the database windows
is wrong. I am now sure that it is linked with the "allow full menus"
startup option. When I disable full menus the icon disappears from the
toolbar and when I enable it, it appears again. Is there any way to
disable full menus and still refer to the "user and group accounts"
window? VBA maybe?

Thank you!

Ed
 
E

Ed

I am not sure what you mean by application level. I created a toolbar
by going to view > toolbars > customize and then I dragged the "group
and custom accounts" icon from tools > security
The toolbar is available only in the database I designed.
There are three items in the toolbar:
1- Compact and repair database
2 - Linked Table manager
3 - User and Group accounts.

The first two icons are always displayed but the user and group
accounts icon is displayed only when full menus are allowed. I have
recreated the toolbar multiple times but the same thing happens every
time.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Ed
 
E

Ed

Hey Lynn!

I did change the toolbar to a menubar and the same thing happened
again. If I set a custom menubar for the start up options then the
standard menubar (file edit, tool, etc) disappears and I don't want to
do this. I still want to give the person all the standard menus
without giving them options to all the design features. Anyway, I give
up with the "no full menus" option in startup.

I created my own copy of the standard menu bar with just the features
that I want and I do not show the standard menu bar. I have "full
menus" enabled.
I did not want to maintain my own menu but it seems to be the only
option. I tried the same thing on my home computer with Access 2003
and the "group and user accounts" icon still does not show with "full
menus" disabled.

It is probably a security feature that microsoft implemented but I
don't see it documented anywhere.

I don't want to waste any more time on small things like this.
Thanks for all your help!

Ed
 

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