Open Exclusive

[Darrell]

I have been asked to prevent two users from having access to an Access
mdb database simultaneously. This presents 2 questions to my mind which
I have never specifically addressed.

1. How does one do this?
2. More generally, what, exactly does Open Exclusive do?

Thank you for any and all help.

Darrell

 

[david.isaacks]

To open the database with exclusive (exclusive: A type of access to
data in a database that is shared over a network. When you open a
database in exclusive mode, you prevent others from opening the
database.) access, click the arrow next to the Open button, and then
click Open Exclusive.

To open the database for read-only access and also prevent other users
from opening it, click the arrow next to the Open button, and then
click Open Exclusive Read-Only.

To open the database for shared access in a multiuser (multiuser
(shared) database: A database that permits more than one user to access
and modify the same set of data at the same time.) environment, so you
and other users can read and write to the database, click Open.

To open the database for read-only access so that you can view it but
cannot edit it, click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click
Open Read-Only.

David

 

[Joseph Meehan]

I have been asked to prevent two users from having access to an Access
mdb database simultaneously. This presents 2 questions to my mind
which I have never specifically addressed.

1. How does one do this?
2. More generally, what, exactly does Open Exclusive do?

Thank you for any and all help.

Darrell

Your question does bring up the question of what the "asker" really
wants to do. I find it unusual, to say the least, that someone would really
want only one person to be able to access Access at a time. There would
seem to be little reason to do so when the users may each access it at
different times. My guess is they have experienced some sort of problem
when more than one user was accessing it at the same time. I would tend to
believe it would be better to resolve the problem than to cripple the
program to prevent it.

 

[Darrell]

David,

Thank you for the response. However, an experiment conducted on this
basis did not yield the described results. One person opened the
database in Exclusive mode as described below and I followed by opening
the database and did everything, including re-designing a table. Any
explanation for this which would point to, perhaps, any other hidden
factors?

Darrell

 

[Darrell]

I agree wholeheartedly. However, that is what the users requested and,
it was on the basis that they change and re-change each others' entries.
As you so correctly pointed out, there is nothing preventing them from
doing this in alternating "Opens", but, that was their request, so I'm
attempting to accommodate it.

Thank you for your input.

Darrell

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

What version of Access are you using, Darrell? Is your application split
into a front-end (containing the queries, forms, reports, macros and
modules) linked to a back-end (containing the tables and relationships)? If
your user opened his front-end and you worked on the back-end, then what you
described could still occur.

 

[gumby]

Try setting your tools/options/advanced/ to Exclusive mode.

Specify whether a Microsoft Access database opens in shared or
exclusive mode by default.

Under Default open mode, do one of the following:
If you want others to be able to open the Microsoft Access database
(Microsoft Access database: click Shared.

If you want sole access to the Access database when you have it open,
click Exclusive.


Also is this database split?

David

 

[Darrell]

What version of Access are you using, Darrell? Is your application split
into a front-end (containing the queries, forms, reports, macros and
modules) linked to a back-end (containing the tables and relationships)? If
your user opened his front-end and you worked on the back-end, then what you
described could still occur.

Thanks for the response. I'm using Access 2003. And, the application is
a single mdb file (there is no back/front split).

Darrell

 

[Darrell]

Try setting your tools/options/advanced/ to Exclusive mode.

Specify whether a Microsoft Access database opens in shared or
exclusive mode by default.

Under Default open mode, do one of the following:
If you want others to be able to open the Microsoft Access database
(Microsoft Access database: click Shared.

If you want sole access to the Access database when you have it open,
click Exclusive.


Also is this database split?

David

Thanks, David, for your response. Douglas Steele asked about the
front/back split as well. This particular database is not split. And, we
have tried the tools/options/advanced route as well.

Darrell

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Any shared application should be split. However, that doesn't address your
problem, does it?

Are you sure you both were using the same database? Access 2003 won't allow
you to change table definitions unless you're the only user.

 

[Darrell]

Any shared application should be split. However, that doesn't address your
problem, does it?

Are you sure you both were using the same database? Access 2003 won't allow
you to change table definitions unless you're the only user.

Again, agreed. This is a "home grown" application created by the users
and is accessed by only 2 people. Perhaps if it ever grows beyond its
current volume of usage redesigning it into a split database would be in
order.

I should also clarify that I did not attempt to save design changes to
the table. This would almost certainly not have been allowed. I was
merely surprised to see that it would even allow me in to design view
while in exclusive mode (since not allowing design changes without
having exclusive access is not allowed, as you said, even in "regular"
mode).

As far as the same database goes, two of us opened the same database
sitting at desks adjacent to one another, and we're both programmers.
So, if we opened 2 separate databases, well... you draw your own
conclusions about us.

Now... we both checked the "Exclusive" radio button under "Default open
mode" on the tools/options/advanced tab and also read the standard help
which reads "To open the database with exclusive (exclusive: A type of
access to data in a database that is shared over a network. When you
open a database in exclusive mode, you prevent others from opening the
database.) access, click the arrow next to the Open button, and then
click Open Exclusive." subsequent to which we went through the Open
dialog box to select "Exclusive" option as another approach to get the
same intended result.

It still allowed both of us to access the database and make data
changes. In short, it behaved exactly as though we had not selected this
option.

Darrell