Password Protect and Read Only Database

[rgsw]

Hi -

I would like user to open Access database and have a choice to either enter a password or click on a button that opens the database in 'read only'. I know this is possible with Excel, but I can't seem to figure out how to do this in Access.

Thanks!

Side Bar: In the past I was able to go to search in this website and it would list info pertaining to my search - I notice it's difficult to do that now. Example - before I would have typed in search "password protect read only" and I could usually find my answer. Now it says too many words or info not available. Is there another way now to search subjects? I hope so, because this website has been very helpful!

[ADezii]

Hi -

I would like user to open Access database and have a choice to either enter a password or click on a button that opens the database in 'read only'. I know this is possible with Excel, but I can't seem to figure out how to do this in Access.

Thanks!

Side Bar: In the past I was able to go to search in this website and it would list info pertaining to my search - I notice it's difficult to do that now. Example - before I would have typed in search "password protect read only" and I could usually find my answer. Now it says too many words or info not available. Is there another way now to search subjects? I hope so, because this website has been very helpful!

I would like user to open Access database and have a choice to either enter a password or click on a button that opens the database in 'read only'

Since the Database is already 'Open', how can the User have a choice to either enter a Password or 'Open' the Database in Read Open Mode. the best you could do would be to have a Main Form with these 2 Options on it and mimic the Password and Read Only functionality.

[rgsw]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I wasn't clear. I know that you can create a password to open a database. I've done that before. However, I wondered if there was a way that if a person didn't know the password, they would have the option to click the database open in read only mode. I wanted to do that instead of using the user-level security option.

That may be what you explained in your answer, but I don't know how to do that.

[jamjar]

I've never tried the database password, but assuming that you're correct in that there is no way to bypass it - you either open with full access or don't open at all - then I would think you're going to have to either try:

• the user-level security, or
• special forms to query the user for a password and VB code to check it and then set the open forms Allow Edits / Deletions / Additions properties accordingly.

User level security is a pain, since you have to make sure users open using the proper workgroup, and since you have to be careful with ownership and not to have 'Admin' belong to 'Admins' etc etc, but it would be more secure than special forms, because the user could still open tables directly, even by linking from another database ....

Do you need a primer on user level security (note the whitepaper secfaq.exe from the MS site link above) or putting VB behind you forms?

regards-

James

[ADezii]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I wasn't clear. I know that you can create a password to open a database. I've done that before. However, I wondered if there was a way that if a person didn't know the password, they would have the option to click the database open in read only mode. I wanted to do that instead of using the user-level security option.

That may be what you explained in your answer, but I don't know how to do that.

Once minimal security is established on a Database via a Password, to the best of my knowledge, there is no way to open that Database in Read Only Mode bypassing the Password entry.

[rgsw]

Thanks for everyone's response. Going over everything, it does seem that assigning permissions to users is my best bet.