multiuser .....

[lulu123]

I am making a database for around 20 users.Just wondering if i put the database file on a net work drive, will everyone be able to open the database at the same time? If that is possiable, and everyone start to enter data at the same time, Would everything being saved at the same time?
Please give me some advise. Thanks.

[mshmyob]

You usually would NEVER lock the entire database (only when changing the Back End). In a live environment you should only lock the records.

In simple terms with Access it depends if you are doing PESSIMISTIC or OPTIMISTIC locking.

PES locking locks the record or form data upon entering the first field to be edited.
OPT locking locks record only when updating (ie: final edit)

Therefore PES locks a record while it is being edited and nobody can work on that record or do certain table wide transactions until the record is free.

OPT locking allows multiple users to modify the data at the same time but the first person who updates gets no error message while the next get an error saying certain data has been updated before they overwrite or ignore updates.

I am making a database for around 20 users.Just wondering if i put the database file on a net work drive, will everyone be able to open the database at the same time? If that is possiable, and everyone start to enter data at the same time, Would everything being saved at the same time?
Please give me some advise. Thanks.

[lulu123]

Thanks for replying...
I still don't understand, can you pls explain more.
What is back end? does that mean i have to split my databse? if so , how should i do that?
If i want use PES, how would i do that?
Thanks a lot.

You usually would NEVER lock the entire database (only when changing the Back End). In a live environment you should only lock the records.

In simple terms with Access it depends if you are doing PESSIMISTIC or OPTIMISTIC locking.

PES locking locks the record or form data upon entering the first field to be edited.
OPT locking locks record only when updating (ie: final edit)

Therefore PES locks a record while it is being edited and nobody can work on that record or do certain table wide transactions until the record is free.

OPT locking allows multiple users to modify the data at the same time but the first person who updates gets no error message while the next get an error saying certain data has been updated before they overwrite or ignore updates.

[mshmyob]

Splitting the database is correct. When you make a database for a network environment (and I believe even a stand alone) it is best to split out the database from the front end.

Depending on your version of Access there are 2 ways.

Before version 2007 do it like so:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304932

For version 2007 you can just select Database Tools from the ribbon and select Access Database and follow the prompts.

For locking take a look at the following

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa173227(office.11).aspx

Just as a side note most people use Optimistic locking so the whole record is not locked. But of course it depends on your application and how you programmed it.

Thanks for replying...
I still don't understand, can you pls explain more.
What is back end? does that mean i have to split my databse? if so , how should i do that?
If i want use PES, how would i do that?
Thanks a lot.