Welcome to P2P.

I would not even bother with this. The MDE has much of the material you really need stripped from the file so nothing can bring it back. And as for need to edit forms, reports, etc., you don't need a 55-dollar demo to do that. Just open a new MDB database, import everything from the MDE, and edit away.


Greg Serrano
Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division

I can do that, but it seems that there are some forms, Reports, Macros and Modules that are greyed out. I need to get everything I had in here back into an MBD file. Is there some security on this thing? I don't remember what went into making this file, a friend of mine set it up, and when I started looking at it, I read up on MDE files and all of the references I have see claim that you can change an MBD into an MDE, but not back.

I was able to import queries and tables, but not the rest of it. That is why I was interested in the program I pointed to, they claim to give me access to the entire thing.

I opened the "unlocked" sample I did and I was given access to the blocked out areas, except for the modules, and my "programmer" seems to have set a VB Password for those, for some reason (maybe job security but he was told not to secure anything that is why this is upsetting me).

Ok, I just imported all of the remaining forms and such from the "recovered" database, but averything says DEMO all over it, even though they are the forms I have designed. So, it looks like the actually opens the MDE file up... If the entire, paid version recovers the entire MDE file and allows me to edit the whole thing, then I am saved.

I had a few MDB files that I had that someone had put security on, and where they did it, caused the interface to read it that I had designed to fail. I found a very inexpensive (about 13 dollars) Access password recovery tool, and it fixed me there, but this is a little beyond that, I saw MDE and I figured it was just another kind of Access file, but I did not know until today, what it actuallly was.

The other issue, that there was a whole section of Modules that were actually VB passdord protected is really bothering me.

If there are any good products that can undo some of this damage, that would be great. I do have some security on this stuff when it gets implanted into the client computers where it is to be used, but this is on MY computer, and none of this stuff is supposed to be protected. I have NO idea what the guy did! I just tell him what I want and give him the design and he makes it for me, and usually I can make any alterations, normally it is just superficial updating. I let others do any massive addition of data.

Arg, it looks like I am going to have to get these VB locked items re-made.

To answer your last question, wall_of-jericho, you can use VB to create a front end for your Access back end, or use MSDE, SQL or any other back end database with your application. It will have your own personal look and feel and look like a floating form - you know, like a normal app.

You can even use text or Excel files for your back end if you are clever. Not as robust, nor secure, but cheap!

HTH

mmcdonal

It could be that the original MDB had a password put on it by the original programmer. Also, although the MDE has the compiled code in it, it is stripped of the script, so the modules will not come back.

As for the word "DEMO" everywhere, it sounds like the programmer of the demo (trial version) of the program you're using PURPOSELY programmed the utility to put that word everywhere so that you would be forced to buy the full version. If the demo worked completely, there would be no reason for you to buy the real program.

Demos (meaning "demonstration" version) are usually toned down versions of the actual program for you to get a taste of what the program can do. But why a demo would cost money is beyond me. Usually demos are free.


Greg Serrano
Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division

I know this about demos, d'oh it makes sense that the developer would want me to buy it, and I actually will buy it - providing it gives me access to the whole MDE file.

As far as the protrction, well, there are visual basic modules that are protected, which are asking for a password, but the Visual Basic debug screen for my version of Office is not coming up at that point and asking me for the password, it is just failing to trabsfer the modules.

So, I just want to know if anyone thinks that for this first part, transferrring the various parts of the MDE file back to MDB, importing it back seems to work, and since that MDE Unlocker seems to actually unlock it, is 55 dollars a decent prive for a program that does this? I have seen password recovery programs priced at $999.00, which I think is excessive.

But considering I may be buying the program, what do I need to do to import the VB modules into the Office Debugger? Do I need to separate those modules out of the MDE program, and how do I do that.

You can use this mde compiler here
It works more than fine

The only way to legally and morally get the module from an MDE is to purchase the source MDB from the developer. Otherwise you are stealing.

__________________
Boyd Trimmell aka HiTechCoach (.com)
Microsoft Access MVP Alumni 2010-2015

I saw this post and I wanted to make a couple of notes just to be super clear:

1. To make an MDE file in Access, simply save it as an "MDE" file type. Access is specifically designed to help you do this! And if you have a question about how to do this in a specific version, please post a thread on it !

2. MDR and ACCDR files can use the Access Runtime, which you can give to people in lieu of requiring the user to have full Access installed on the local machine. And the really good news is that the Access Runtime is a free download from Microsoft these days. However, not all Access functionality is available via the Runtime, so be sure to test your application first beofre just blindly giving it away!

Anyway, I hope that helps clear up a few questions in this thread!

Good luck,

Geoffrey L. Griffith
http://www.ImagineThought.com

Wrox Author of:
Access 2010 24-Hour Trainer
Access 2010 Programmer's Reference
Access 2007 VBA Programmer's Reference