Hi All Experts!

I have a database with a form and some reports. This form allows user to enter certain criteria to get reports that they want. What I want to do is to somehow lock the database. So when the user click to open the database, they will only see the form and nothing else; they CANNOT do any editing, updates, creates tables, etc. Please tell me how can I do this task.

Thank you for all your help!

Leon

Do you mean that they only see the form when opening the DB. If so, use the on start menu to degignate the form they can view. If necessary, you can hide the other components of the DB, You'll also want to set the form to view only so no changes to the table can be made.

What type of report are you running...have you considered a paramater query instead of using a form??

Hope this helps

John

I would suggest implementing security, thereby not allowing them to make any changes, only run reports as specified. Granted, it's not a simple task, but worth it if your data and database is worth preserving.

Regards,

Beth M

If you want a really secure database, then as Beth said it can get quite involved... but there are a couple of things you can do to make it somewhat secure from all novice Access users. The experts, of course, will always get around these suggestions.

First and foremost make a back-up of your database before you implement security. In that way if you lock yourself out of it, you'll have the back-up.

Suggestions:

• Turn the MDB file into an MDE file. Click TOOLS > DATABASES > MAKE MDE FILE. This will strip all code from your forms and reports and will not let people edit the forms and reports.
• Click TOOLS > STARTUP and UNselect those checkmarks for selections you don't want people get access to. Read up on them first so you understand what each means.
• Separate your data (back end) from your forms and reports (front end). Give each user the MDE front end and put the tables and queries (back end) in a spot where the file is read-only. Have your front end link to the back end using the Linked Table Manager.

These suggestions are low to medium security measures. For a really secure database, someone else will have to provide details. I've never had to secure anything that badly.


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

Just for clarification purposes, in Greg's bulleted points, I would separate the data into the backend before you convert a database into an mde.

Also, if you wanted to learn more about security, search M$ Knowledge Base for MS Access Security FAQ then read it, read it again, and then reread it. Also, for another layer, if your backend is on a sql server, you can also implement security at this level.

Regards,

Beth M

Good point, Beth. Yes, if you're going to do all three, do the bullets in reverse order that I gave you. The MDE file and the UNchecking of options bullets should be done to the front end.

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

If all you need is a read only database for users, do not use Access security. Create a front end for the database which contains thereport andform that ou need. Link the table and then create an mde file. Use ado if you can to avoid linked tables.

Access security sucks and brings a lot of problems. One of them is performance degradation. Specially with split databases.

Remember K.I.I.S.





Sal

Sal,

I would tend to disagree with you on this one. Although I haven't posted as many times as you on the boards, I know my application. Access security doesn't 'suck'. You just need to know what you are doing and implement it correctly. It isn't for the newbie to create an app, apply security and expect everything to work right the first time.

Respectfully,

Beth M

Thank ALL for all your helps! I am very glad there are awesome people like your guys/ladies out there willing to spend your time to help me out! Your comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Leon

Hi John,

I think you have just the answer that I am looking for; I do want only see the form when openning the DB. However, I can't find how to do the "on-start" method you are referring to. Can you please tell me which menu or method to do this on-start? Also, I am using parameter query; where users can enter a criteria and a report will pop up based on the criteria/parameter they have entered. Even with this parameter query, I still want them to only see the form and now able to change anything.

Thank you.

Leon