Using Shift-Startup

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm building an access application, which tracks IT Labs at the local college.

It will be placed on a shared drive, where students have read-only access
and staff have read and write access.

The system uses a piece of code ( Username = (environ("Username")) to work
out the person accessing the code and based on their username, displays a
different form at startup. (Students see the VIEW timetable, Staff see MAKE A
BOOKING...)

Is there a way to stop students by-passing the initial startup, by holding
shift?

Thank you

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

You can create a database property named AllowBypassKey and set its value to
False.

See http://www.mvps.org/access/general/gen0040.htm at "The Access Web" for
the correct way to create this property.

However, I always cringe when people suggest using an environment variable
for this purpose, given how easy it is to reset an environment variable. All
a determined student needs to do is:

1. Open a command prompt ("DOS Box")
2. Type Set Username = xxx (where xxx is the ID of a staff member)
3. While still in the same command prompt, start the application (<full path
to msaccess.exe> <full path to database>). Environ("Username") will return
xxx

(Of course, should the student start the application outside of that command
prompt, Environ("Username") will be correct)

Far safer, in my opinion, is to use the GetUserName API call. See
http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0008.htm at "The Access Web" for a
complete sample.

 

[Guest]

Hi

The school tech's are pretty hot on this type of thing, and all cmd isn't
allowed, even on the staff accounts.

Even such things as the New Task in task manager has been removed.

However, I understand you concern and reasoning, and will look at the links
you provided.

Thank you for your help

Dan