Database on a LAN Drive, but security only works for me

[Guest]

Hi,

After several attempts at getting security working in access 2003, I
followed these procedures (from Joan Wild):

www.jmwild.com/AccessSecurity.htm

When I start access it prompts me for the user & password, but whenever one
of my colleagues open it from their machines it opens up straight away with
no password required.

I have:

- Created an owner user called super (this owns the DB and all objects)
- Created a new Workgroup file associated the DB to that
- Checked all users and permissions (especially Admin and User which have
none)
- Did the 'You can verify this by hitting Ctrl-G and typing
?DBEngine.SystemDB' and it says the DB is using the new workgroup I created

Where am i going wrong with this?

Cheers,
GLT.

 

[Joan Wild]

If that's the order you followed, then it shouldn't work.

You need to follow every step (missing nothing), in order, to get it right.

 

[Guest]

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your reply.

I have done this process twice, and then once more with a colleague, all
three times we had exactly the same result. here is waht i did:

Recovered the unsecured backup DB, followed steps 1 - 15, 22 - 32 and also
performed the steps 1 - 3.

We wrote down everything we did at each step:

Step 1 - Open blank db - only "Workgroup Administarator" and "User and Group
Accounts" displayed
Step 2 - Open Workgroup Administrator - copy the follwing path: C:\Documents
and Settings\TLRGT8\Application Data\Microsoft\Access\System.mdw
Step 3 - Created new name, org, workgrp id
Step 4 - Chose LAN Drive location for Workgroup file
Step 5 - Now connected to new Workgroup file
Step 6 - Open User and Group Accounts
Step 7 - Created New user (topdog) - added to Admins
Step 8 - Removed "Admins" from Admin user
Step 9 - Entered Password for user Admin
Step 10 - Close Access
Step 11 - Open unsecured DB - logged in as topdog - password blank - login ok
Step 12 - Change password for topdog
Step 13 - Open user Security Wizard, "Modify current wrokgroup file"
selected, click next
Step 14 - Goto step 22
Step 15 - All items selected - clicked next
Step 16 - Selected full data users
Step 17 - Left 'No, User group should not have any permissions' - clicked next
Step 18 - Step 25 (Create Users) - selected topdog and tried to enter
password, but password field says <previously created>
Step 19 - Created two new users, User1 and User2
Step 20 - topdog belongs to Admins, User1 and user2 allocated to full data
users
Step 21 - backup copy of unsecure db done
Step 22 - Security report displayed, printed ok
Step 23 - saved snapshot file
Step 24 - MS Access closed by itself (there was no message remininding to
close)
Step 25 - Cancelled Access trying to reopen
Step 26 - Closed MS Access
Step 27 - Opened Access - joined by default to new Security file on LAN Drive
Step 28 - rejoined old system.mdw file : C:\Documents and
Settings\TLRGT8\Application Data\Microsoft\Access\System.mdw
Step 29 - Created desktop shortcut - works OK
Step 30 - Tried openeing DB directly on LAN drive (without using shortcut on
my desktop) - says I do not have the neccessary permissions
Step 31 - Went to colleagues desk and he opens the DB (double clicking on
it), comes up with 'security warning, unsafe expressions are not blocked', he
clicks open and the DB opens up no problems

 

[Joan Wild]

We wrote down everything we did at each step:

Step 1 - Open blank db - only "Workgroup Administarator" and "User and Group
Accounts" displayed
Step 2 - Open Workgroup Administrator - copy the follwing path: C:\Documents
and Settings\TLRGT8\Application Data\Microsoft\Access\System.mdw
Step 3 - Created new name, org, workgrp id
Step 4 - Chose LAN Drive location for Workgroup file
Step 5 - Now connected to new Workgroup file

I'm not so sure you are. It may now be the default, but that doesn't mean it's currently 'in use'. *If* it really is now the default, I'd close Access and reopen it, and create a new mdb.

....> Step 18 - Step 25 (Create Users) - selected topdog and tried to enter

password, but password field says <previously created>

You'll need to login as topdog and use the security menu items to set a password (Tools, security, accounts, change password)

Step 30 - Tried openeing DB directly on LAN drive (without using shortcut on
my desktop) - says I do not have the neccessary permissions
Step 31 - Went to colleagues desk and he opens the DB (double clicking on
it), comes up with 'security warning, unsafe expressions are not blocked', he
clicks open and the DB opens up no problems

If you like, you can zip this 'secure' mdb and send it to me; according to you then, I should be able to open it without your secure mdw?

 

[GLT]

Hi Joan,

Thanks for you reply.

I have repeatdly tried this several times - perhaps its the previous
attempts at setting security up (ie not resetting security or the workgroup
file) that is affecting the results every time I try to make this work.

I was hoping that some one could say check this or check that and I could
see exaclty what is not right with this, but all I keep reading is that
security is such an advanced topic - why does Access have a "WIZARD" to help
you set it up for then?

Anyway we have decided this is not worth the effort ... thanks for your time.

Cheers,
GLT.

Cheers,
GLT.