Workgroup security when on another computer!

[voyagergregory]

Hi,

I am designing a database at home on my computer - for other people to eventually use on their own computers.

I need security (mainly so the can't read or change the design, or view certain tables). I think I will have 2 user group - Security (for me/full access) and Client (restricted).

I understand that I need to create a new workgroup - I will name it Secure.mdb or something like that.

How do I do that?

I also will burn the database to CD, so they can copy it to their computer and use it. However, I still will want the database to be fully secured, with the permissions I specified at home. Will I need to put the workgroup on the CD as well, what can I do?
Will I somehow need to specify a link the the CD?

Please help,
Nathan

 

[JPeters]

Nathan,

Yes, you're going to have to make a workgroup file. Yes, you're going to have to join the workgroup when you work on the Database or login to the DB. Yes, you're going to have to include it on the CD so they can login to it.

To create a workgroup, just read up on them in your access help file (I'd suggest doing this prior to creating it regardless of my post).
You run the program wrkgadm from your STart/Run in windoze, then chose create. NOW WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING YOU TYPE into these creation boxes! You may need these in the future if you're forced to re-create this group for some reason.

After creating, join this new workgroup and start building. I remember there being a bit more to it after it is created, you've got to tell the database that you must join this specific workgroup in order to login... It's all somewhere in the help file under Workgroups .. and I think you make most of these changes as the Admin user in the Tools/Security menu.

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
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[JPeters]

Oh yeah, and you go in and create your user groups in the Tools/Security menu also. It's pretty simple.

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
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[thornmastr]

You create a new workgroup file by clicking on tools/security/workgroup administrator/create. The file that is created is a mdw file.

Once you have done this, you can use the security wizard to set both your rights and your user rights. Since you did not ask for too many particulars about this process, be a bit careful.

You will need to put the mdw file on the CD along with your mdb file. When you copy everything to your users PC, you will need to define a desktop shortcut to your database. You will need to look at the requirements for starting Access from the shortcut command line. That will also tell you how to set up your mdb file to work with your mdw file.

Again, plan this out and be careful.
Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[voyagergregory]

Big thanks for that.

So, sorry if I sound stupid, but:

I only need to put my Main Access Database and Special Workgroup File on the CD? Also, how would I actually configure a shortcut on their computer to run this special workgroup?]

Would they need to copy the two files into a folder on their computer?

Could I create a shortcut for them and include it on the disk, and instruct them to always use this shortcut?

I wouldnt' need to use some kind of installer would I for them, would there be any point with these 3 files?

Nathan

 

[thornmastr]

Nat,

Look in the help file for command line options. One of those options is for the mdw file. Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[JPeters]

Shortcut Target will read like this:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Msaccess.exe" "C:\MyPath\MyMDB.mdb" /wrkgrp "C:\MyPath\MyWrkGrp.mdw" /user User /pwd ???

This will give them a prompt box to login to the database. If they're comp savvy, they can edit the shortcut target and put their info in place of user and ???.

Yeah, take the files off of the CD, if they leave them there, they'll be read only - no changes to that DB. ;-)

No installer neccessary, just add a Readme.txt file to the cd and explain which directory the database needs to go to, and tell them that they can put the shortcut wherever they want (desktop, my docs, etc) just to make sure they run the SHortcut to open the DB. ANd make sure that they put the files in the appropriate directories, otherwise the Shortcut won't run.

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
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[voyagergregory]

Just one more thing Josh

U understand it all so far, about the shortcut.

Except for the command line argument /user User /pwd ???

If I didn't have this argument, wouldn't the database just load up as it does onmy computer, prompting for a user name and password?

Does that mean if I specify /user User pass/ ??? I'm specifying THEIR user name and passwords, to make it easy for them to use. By specifying the username and passwords, is that just making it easier, or is it necessary?

Nath

 

[WildHare]

To back up what Josh just said, after you copy the files FROM the CD TO the PC hard drive, you'll need to RESET the READ-ONLY attribute for them - they'll come off the CD set as READ ONLY!!!

And yes, when using a workgroup file, you can shortcut the user name, so the first login screen comes 'prefilled' on their computer, and they only have to enter the password, or you can prefill both of them.

Jim
Me? Ambivalent? Well, yes and no....
Another free Access forum:

http://www.forumco.com/jmhare

More Access stuff at

http://www.jmhare.com/wildhare2.htm

 

[WildHare]

To back up what Josh just said, after you copy the files FROM the CD TO the PC hard drive, you'll need to RESET the READ-ONLY attribute for them - they'll come off the CD set as READ ONLY!!!

A perhaps easier way to do this is to ZIP the files, and then package them in to a self-extracting zipfile with WinZip or a similar tool. The zip file will be read-only, but the internal files will retain their original read-writeiness... LOL

And yes, when using a workgroup file, you can shortcut the user name, so the first login screen comes 'prefilled' on their computer, and they only have to enter the password, or you can prefill both of them.

Jim
Me? Ambivalent? Well, yes and no....
Another free Access forum:

http://www.forumco.com/jmhare

More Access stuff at

http://www.jmhare.com/wildhare2.htm

 

[voyagergregory]

Thanks. You've all been really helpful.

I have to design this solution for other people to use. It's meant to be easy for them to use-so it might be complicated for them to start changing attributes. Will they always come off the CD as read-only?

 

[voyagergregory]

Thanks. You've all been really helpful.

I have to design this solution for other people to use. It's meant to be easy for them to use-so it might be complicated for them to start changing attributes. Will they always come off the CD as read-only? Is there any way to change this?

Nath

 

[JPeters]

After copying to the hard drive. Right click your files, go to properties, and uncheck read-only. I had forgotten about that. Nice one, Jim.

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
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