Finished database and forms now how do I make it secure

[bbannock]

Hi...I've just recently finished creating my first real database which is going to be used my other. I now need to figure how I can make it so they can use the switchboard and the combo boxes in the forms to look up data, but can't change any of the actual data, the format or add data to the forms. Anyone know a good way to go about this or where to find this info...thanks alot

Brandon

 

[AccessHawaii]

Yes, You want to secure the database. I'm not sure what version you're running but if you're running the latest, Go to tools > workgroup administrator and create a workgroup. Once you've done that, goto Security > User and group accounts and create an account for yourself and assign yourself to the admins group. Then remove the default "Admin" user from the "Admins" group so it only belongs to users, Then go ahead and assing a password to the "Admin" user.

Close the database and go back in and you should be prompted for a password, Just leave the field blank unless you've assigned yourself one and then goto tools>security>user level security wizard and follow the instructions and your database is now secured. After that you can go back into user and group accounts and create accounts for personnel and after that you can set their permissions to the database elements by going to tools>security>user and group permissions.

Note: You'll also need to create a shortcut for each user to access the database through the workgroup, which looks something like this.

"C:\Program Files\MicrosoftOffice\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\mydatabase.mdb" /WRKGRP "C:\secure.mdw"

Just copy and paste the path to Access on your machine for the first part, then copy and paste the path to the database for the second part and finally copy and paste the path to the mdw file that you created for the last part.

Hope this helps.

 

[tizwaz]

Hi - this is something I want to do as well. I am using Access 2000 but can't see an entry for tools - workgroup administrator.

Also where should I save the mdw file? The database is on a network drive - should the mdw be in the same place?

 

[AccessHawaii]

If you're running access 2000 then I believe theres an mdw file in the system or microsoft office folder but I'm not sure. The easiest way to locate one is to just do a search with keyword *.mdw to pull up the mdw files. Once you locate the system one or whatever one you come across, just double click it and choose to create a new workgroup file. It's a good idea to keep the mdw file in the same directory as your database, maybe by creating a separate sub-folder for it so you can easily track your workgroup files. It's also a good practice to give the mdw file the same name as your database. Hope this helps.

 

[JeremyNYC]

What I would suggest is that you get a copy of the MS Access Security FAQ and read it a few times. Securing a database takes BACKUPS, patience, and close reading. You can get the FAQ from MS, and there's a copy on my website (because I got sick of following their moving links).

Jeremy

==
Jeremy Wallace
AlphaBet City Dataworks

http://www.ABCDataworks.com

Access Databases for Non-Profit Organizations

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