User-Level Security - Access 2002

[his]

After creating users, groups, permissions and a
database password for a basic single-user standalone
database in Access 2002, I ran a series of tests to make
sure the security features worked.
On the machine this work was created on everything
tested as anticipated.
I proceeded to copy the database to a cd and then
copied its contents to another standalone pc with Access
2002. I turned the "read-only" attribute to off and then
proceeded to open up Access and the database.
At this point the system could not find the database
even though it was sitting on the desktop. As
the "Administrator" to both PCs I could not find a way to
change any of the permissions as the system error
messages indicated I needed to do.

So my basic question is, "Does Access save any of the
security information with the database or does it save it
in Access, or does it save it to other files?

I do know a little about the workgroup files but how do
you go about transporting them to a different standalone
system and make it be recognized by the host system?
None of the documentation I've looked at addressed this
issue.

Any ideas? I would appreciate any help or even hints as
to what is going on!!!!

Thanks,

HIS

 

[Scott McDaniel]

You didn't provide us with specific error messaging, but I assume your error
did not have anything to do with Windows permissions, but instead
permissions for the security (i.e. workgroup) file.

When distributing a secured Access db, you must also provide the workgroup
file for use with your database. Workgroup files are little more than an
Access db, so it's simply a matter of copying the file (just like you did
your database). When securing your database, did you follow all steps in the
Security FAQ? If so, you created a new workgroup file and added users/groups
to THAT file ... that is the file you would need to copy to other computers.
Also, you'll want to make a desktop shortcut to launch this file with the
correct workgroup:

"path to msaccess.exe" "path to your .mdb" /wrkgrp"path to you workgroup
file" (note: check online help to make sure this syntax is correct)

Your users would then click this desktop icon, and your db would be
launched.

If you did NOT create a new workgroup file, I'd STRONGLY recommend you do
so. If you didn't, then you added users/groups to the default (system.mdw)
file, which is a definite no-no. Desecure your database, then go about
securing it via the methods described in the MS Access Security FAQs
(available for download from the Microsoft website). Also, remove all
users/groups that you added to the system.mdw file (or get a new copy of
it).

Scott McDaniel
CS Computer Solutions