how open db read-only and exclusive?

#1 (**permalink**) 16-Nov-2005, 14:51 PM

A2003, split database on a network
how can the database be opened read-only using a shortcut? Does this mean
that read-only users can not update any data for sure?

I am having difficulty understanding the meaning of opening a db
exclusively. If db has both fe and be set to open exclusively -- I thought
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/information-technology/7481-how-open-db-read-only-exclusive.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=7481
(naively) this meant only one person could open their fe and use it to make
changes to data at any given time. Have tested and this is not the case.
Could you please explain. How is opening exclusively different from opening
in shared mode? In which circumstances should you choose to set the options
to open exclusively or shared?

#2 (**permalink**) 16-Nov-2005, 14:51 PM

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 14:16:08 -0800, Liz James
wrote:

>A2003, split database on a network
>how can the database be opened read-only using a shortcut? Does this mean
>that read-only users can not update any data for sure?

You can use the /ro switch in the shortcut to open the database read
only; and read only means read only - the user will not be able to
modify anything IN THAT DATABASE.

However, there is no data stored in the frontend - the data is in the
backend; they'll be able to use the (static, unchanged) frontend
database to update the backend tables. See below.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=7481

>I am having difficulty understanding the meaning of opening a db
>exclusively. If db has both fe and be set to open exclusively -- I thought
>(naively) this meant only one person could open their fe and use it to make
>changes to data at any given time. Have tested and this is not the case.
>Could you please explain. How is opening exclusively different from opening
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=7481
>in shared mode? In which circumstances should you choose to set the options
>to open exclusively or shared?

There are two .mdb files in play here: the frontend (one copy of which
is presumably on each user's computer) and the backend. Opening the
frontend exclusively means that nobody else can open THAT PARTICULAR
FRONTEND. It does NOT affect how many different frontends can be
linked to a given backend.

Access is multiuser by default; especially when you're using a split
database, there is generally no reason to require users to queue up to
open the database exclusively. One user can be updating one record in
a table, while a different user is updating a different record, or
adding new records. Do you really NEED to have the backend (normally
created so that it CAN be shared) unshared?

John W. Vinson[MVP]

#3 (**permalink**) 16-Nov-2005, 14:51 PM

thanks, just what I needed to understand

"John Vinson" wrote:

> On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 14:16:08 -0800, Liz James
> wrote:
>
> >A2003, split database on a network
> >how can the database be opened read-only using a shortcut? Does this mean
> >that read-only users can not update any data for sure?
>
> You can use the /ro switch in the shortcut to open the database read
> only; and read only means read only - the user will not be able to
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=7481
> modify anything IN THAT DATABASE.
>
> However, there is no data stored in the frontend - the data is in the
> backend; they'll be able to use the (static, unchanged) frontend
> database to update the backend tables. See below.
>
> >I am having difficulty understanding the meaning of opening a db
> >exclusively. If db has both fe and be set to open exclusively -- I thought
> >(naively) this meant only one person could open their fe and use it to make
> >changes to data at any given time. Have tested and this is not the case.
> >Could you please explain. How is opening exclusively different from opening
> >in shared mode? In which circumstances should you choose to set the options
> >to open exclusively or shared?
>
> There are two .mdb files in play here: the frontend (one copy of which
> is presumably on each user's computer) and the backend. Opening the
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=7481
> frontend exclusively means that nobody else can open THAT PARTICULAR
> FRONTEND. It does NOT affect how many different frontends can be
> linked to a given backend.
>
> Access is multiuser by default; especially when you're using a split
> database, there is generally no reason to require users to queue up to
> open the database exclusively. One user can be updating one record in
> a table, while a different user is updating a different record, or
> adding new records. Do you really NEED to have the backend (normally
> created so that it CAN be shared) unshared?
>
> John W. Vinson[MVP]
>