A Database becomes "Read Only"

[HenriM]

One of my Users suddenly had an error message "This record is not Updatable", accessing a database which I had sent to him.

Because his firewall throws out everything that breathes, I had to remove the .mdb suffix before sending and he had to put it back on receipt.

We have done this numerous times with more than one database and have had no problems.

This time, checking the properties (right-click on the file in Windows Explorer) we find that his file attribute has become "read only". Untick that - problem solved!

I am just curious to know how it arose in the first place. I am sure my user did not change the attribute - until I told him he didn't even know how!!!

Has anyone else copme across this?

 

[KenReay]

Hi

By any chance, had the mdb file been copied to/from CD before sending to client?, copying the file from CD would set the read only attribute

Regards

Ken Reay
Freelance Solutions Developer
Boldon Information Systems Ltd
Website needs upgrading, but for now -

http://www.kenneth.reay.btinternet.co.uk

UK

 

[HenriM]

Thanks Ken. However that is not the cause; this file was an attachment to an e-mail from the hard drive.

As I said, this is not a real problem, easily put right, but I am just curious. I spoke to another developer who did have the same experience - and he didn't know why either!

As a side issue, I do have one of these mini drives ("PockiDrive") and as this works as a drive in its own right
it doesn't alter the attribute.

So I haven't tried it, but if a file is copied to a CD using Adaptecs' DirectCD (you just drag&drop) I imagine that the attribute would also not change to read-only.

Academic, I know, but sometimes it's worth pursuing these things just to see what turns up!

Thanks again,

Henri