Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?

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From: Bob (bobatkpmg_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 10/08/04 

Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 12:48:44 -0500

Hi Joan:

Thanks a lot for your detailed reply. I was hoping time would solve the
problem :) but nope, I was asked about this again.

So I tried you suggestion to create a new MDB file and import the objects.
I was able to import the tables, queries, and forms (that show up in the
Forms category) without problem. Also I exported the VBA modules and class
modules from the original MDB file and imported successfully. However,
there are a few items that show up under Microsoft Access Class Objects in
the VB Editor, with names starting with Form_ or Report_, that I couldn't
import. It gives the messages "The module name 'Form_mytest' is invalid."
I think these are Forms objects, but they don't show up under the Forms
category in Access main window.

The actual deployment of this app is exactly what you said, every user has a
copy of the Access DB file on their local PC. For me, I'm trying to modify
certain things in it so I need exclusive access to it.

I tried the build "admin" account, and also the documented admin account in
the MDW file that accompanies the MDB file, which is "EFANAdmin", the same
result, I can't modify anything because I can't open it exclusively.

One thing mentioned in the document of this app is that all these are used
in a Windows domain environment. That is, the client user is logged into
the domain, and the MDW file is on a server on the same domain, and SQL
Server is on another server on the same domain. I'm wondering if the fact
that there is no way for me to open this thing exclusively is because I'm
not on the same domain? As a matter of fact, I'm not on any domain at all.

Anyway, I have printed out 30+ pages of Microsoft documentation on Access
Security and will read through it this weekend.

Thanks a lot for the help.
Bob

"Joan Wild" <jwild@nospamtyenet.com> wrote in message
news:eeqhmvboEHA.896@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Bob wrote:
> > I'm helping assess some enhancements needed for an Access/SQL Server
> > application. The Access part has a set of client facing forms and
> > reports, and pulls data from the SQL Server. What I'm not familiar
> > with is the user level security in Access. The mdb file looks for
> > the mdw file for user security info.
>
> Not quite. The mdb file doesn't, the Access session does. Every time you
> open Access a mdw file is used. There is a system.mdw that ships with
> Access and is used by default (it silently logs you in as 'Admin' user).
>
> > How can I break this
> > authentication link so the mdb file can be opened without any
> > security restrictions. I have the admin pwd.
>
> You need to log in as a member of the Admins group. Give full permissions
> to every object to the Users Group. Quit Access; ensure you are joined to
> the system.mdw workgroup (use the workgroup administrator to do this).
Open
> Access, create a new mdb (you should get no login), and import all the
> objects from your mdb. This new mdb will be unsecured.
>
> >
> > I'm not even sure if the above would solve my real problem. When the
> > application runs on the client network (the mdw file on a network
> > drive with user's domain account info), using the admin pwd can gain
> > exclusive access to the mdb file, so the macros/VBA codes can be
> > changed. However, when I run them on my local PC (after adding my
> > local login to mdw using wkrgadm.exe so it would prompt me to login)
> > using the admin pwd, it keeps saying "You do not have exclusive
> > access to the database at this time..." in a popup message box when I
> > try to edit any VBA code. Autoexec macro doesn't show up in the
> > Macro list either. I tried holding Shift key when opening the mbd
> > file but no help. That's why I think it may have something to do
> > with the security, but if I'm wrong, I'd appreciate any suggestions.
>
> The Admin user should not have any permissions to anything in a properly
> secured database. When you say 'admin', do you mean the built-in Admin
> user, or a user you created for administrating the database?
>
> Just adding that user to your local mdw, wouldn't necessarily get you the
> authentication to make changes.
>
> However the message 'you do not have exclusive access...' is a new
> requirement starting with version 2000. You cannot modify the design of
> anything unless you have the mdb opened exclusively. You should give each
> user a copy of the frontend on their local computer; they shouldn't be
> running the same frontend on the server.
>
> --
> Joan Wild
> Microsoft Access MVP
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?
    ... > I'm helping assess some enhancements needed for an Access/SQL Server ... > the mdw file for user security info. ... The mdb file doesn't, the Access session does. ... Access and is used by default (it silently logs you in as 'Admin' user). ...
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  • Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?
    ... So I tried you suggestion to create a new MDB file and import the objects. ... I tried the build "admin" account, and also the documented admin account in ... the domain, and the MDW file is on a server on the same domain, and SQL ... Security and will read through it this weekend. ...
    (microsoft.public.access.security)
  • Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?
    ... So I tried you suggestion to create a new MDB file and import the objects. ... I tried the build "admin" account, and also the documented admin account in ... the domain, and the MDW file is on a server on the same domain, and SQL ... Security and will read through it this weekend. ...
    (microsoft.public.access.security)
  • Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?
    ... So I tried you suggestion to create a new MDB file and import the objects. ... I tried the build "admin" account, and also the documented admin account in ... the domain, and the MDW file is on a server on the same domain, and SQL ... Security and will read through it this weekend. ...
    (microsoft.public.access.security)
  • Re: how to detach an mdb from an mdw file?
    ... So I tried you suggestion to create a new MDB file and import the objects. ... I tried the build "admin" account, and also the documented admin account in ... the domain, and the MDW file is on a server on the same domain, and SQL ... Security and will read through it this weekend. ...
    (microsoft.public.access.security)