Workgroup File system.mdw

[Guest]

I have set up a database using Access 2003. I have linked to some Ingres
database tables which I need to query. I have invoked Access security so
that users have read-only permissions on the Ingres table. For any users
that need to access my database I have joined them to my Workgroup file
(system.mdw) using Access Security.

Everything works fine except that now when a user runs MS Access on their
PC, they are prompted for a username and password regardless of the database
they wish to open. Most of the databases on our network do not require
security but the only way users (who are joined to my system.mdw file) can
access them is by using the usernames and passwords I have set up for my
database.

Is this normal? Ideally I would only like users to be prompted for a
username and password when they try to access my database (rather than all
databases).

If someone can help I would be extremely grateful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TC]

Sorry, but you have almost certainly set up your security wrongly. The
only way to get it right, in general, is to follow an explicit list of
written instructions, adding and omitting nothing. And none of those
instructions will ever say to use the stndard system.mdw file. All of
them will say to start the process by creating a new workgroup file,
for your secured database. /And/, they'd tell you how to use a shortcut
using the /wrkgrp switch, to avoid the problem that you're now having.

So here's what I suggest. But you'll have to tread carefully, lest you
make it even worse! This is off the top of my head, and is therefore
UNTESTED.

1. Copy system.mdw to blah.mdw (or whatever).

2. Log in to your database, using system.mdw, as a member of the Admins
group.

3. /Delete/ all the users & groups that you created for your security.
Then remove the password from the Admin user, and lose Access.

4. Now create a shortcut with a target of the following form:

(all on one line)

"full path to MSACCESS.EXE"
"full path to secured mdb file"
/wrkgrp "full path to blah.mdw"

Now, normal databases /will not/ prompt for a username/password, but
when you start the secured database using the shortcut described above,
it /will/ prompt for a username/password.

The problem remains, that your database might or might not have been
secured correctly. Ie. there might be big fat holes in the security!
But at least you havn';t gone backwards, and you have solved the
problem you describe in your post.

HTH,
TC

 

[Lynn Trapp]

James,
In addition to TC's excellent remarks, even with the modicum of security
that you may have implemented, you can assure that any access to your Ingres
tables are read only by only giving your users access to those tables via a
pass through query. Pass through queries always return read only record
sets.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[Guest]

TC

Thank you very much for your comments. I will try what you suggest.

Regards

James

 

[Guest]

Lynn

Many thanks for your reply.

Regards

James