Linked tables problem

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Guest

Hi
I have an Access 2000 database with linked tables from an Excel spreadsheet, I have used the spreadsheet simply because a large number of serial numbers are being added continuously. I problem I am having is, when another user tries to access the database an error occurs stating the the Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the xls file. It also state
that it is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view it's data. Even though I have give
full shared access to the excel files, I still get this error popping up
What have I done wrong??????????????
Any help will be greatly appreciated
 
A spreadsheet is not a database system. You can't have multiple users in a
Excel sheet. And, trying to get around this limitation of Excel by linking
it to a ms-access will not change the fact that ONLY ONE user can edit and
be in a spreadsheet at the same time.

I am not sure who in came up with this idea of trying to use a spreadsheet
in multi-user environment....but is a bad idea...as spreadsheets are ONE
document..that only ONE user can edit and change at the same time.

In a database each row of data is a SINGLE record (and, just like
Excel..only ONE person can edit the ONE record at a give time). However,
since everything is broken down into records in a database...(and not a
whole sheet)..then a database works well in a multi user environment.

Further...if done right...a ms-access database is a million times better
then is using Excel. With Excel, it is VERY difficult to control input, and
force users to put the correct data format into each cell/field. For
example, you might enter text into a date field...and what will ms-access do
with that? Excel is VERY loose when it comes to verifying user input.

All in all..trying to use excel for data input is a disaster waiting to
happen. It is a amateur approach that will cause you, or your company to
waste time and dollars on the wrong approach. As a developer...I can't
possibly recommend your approach.

Why not build a MORE user friendly continuous form in ms-access..and get rid
of this excel sheet for data entry?

Here is some screen shots of grids in ms-access..they are far better then
Excel..and your data can be relational also.

http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn/Articles/Grid.htm
 
I believe that's just the way Excel spreadsheets are. You'd get the same
message if two users tried to open the spreadsheet simultaneously using
Excel.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP

(No private e-mails, please)



Gwynn said:
Hi,
I have an Access 2000 database with linked tables from an Excel
Click to expand...
spreadsheet, I have used the spreadsheet simply because a large number of
serial numbers are being added continuously. I problem I am having is, when
another user tries to access the database an error occurs stating the the
Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the xls file. It also states
that it is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need
Click to expand...
permission to view it's data. Even though I have given
 
Yes, Excel, unlike Access only permits one user to modify a file at once. If
constant access to the table/s outside of your database) is required, you
would be better off using separate linked Access db's with the tables (using
record locking) than Excel.
 
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