Can access database be run for multi users?

[Aftab Ahmad]

I want to run my database through networking for multi users. Is it possible??

[doev]

Yes its possible. Just try it out.

[twinnyfo]

Networking is one of the great advantages of MS Access. There are very few limitations, although two users cannot edit the same record at the same time.

There are some tips and tricks to doing it right though. When I get to work I will provide some links to articles/threads which address this.

[twinnyfo]

Take a look at this artcile on Custom User Permissions and Menus and it will provide some good insight. It is a bit advanced for anovice developer, but a great place to learn your craft.

I am also trying to find the thread that discusses a Shell Script to copy a networked front end to the user's local machine so that the DB executes locally, accessing the networked Back End. I can provide that script, but the thread itself is useful in understanding what is going on and why.

[zmbd]

Aftab Ahmad
As TwinnyFo said, there are some steps to take.

IMHO: the two most important steps are:

- Split the database into Front-end and Back-End. A COPY of the front-end will run from client's PC and the back-end will reside on your network share

- Normalize your data

You will find dozens if threads here on Bytes.com covering both of these concepts.

[twinnyfo]

OK! I found the other thread:

Feeding Updates From a Newer Version

[zmbd]

TwinnyFO
I have used a version of that script for many years; however, now I have my Access frontends check for a new version on the network and if needed create the script on the fly and then shell out the script, closing the current Frontend, copy the new frontend, and then restart Access.
Much less traffic on the network and faster startups for the client.

[twinnyfo]

Z,

My script checks for the latest version first, then only copies thenew back end if it is out of date, then opens the DB. This precludes Access from opening twice. This eliminates net traffic completely unless the DB is out of date.

Here is the absolute latest version of said script:

@ECHO OFF
CLS
SET gSourceLocation=\\SERVER\FOLDER\DATABASE\
SET gAppFileName=DBASENAME.accde
SET gVersionFileName=Version.txt
SET gAppDir=Documents\DBUser\
 
SET sUserProfile=%userprofile%
SET sSourceFile=%gSourceLocation%%gAppFileName%
SET sSourceVersionFile=%gSourceLocation%%gVersionFileName%
 
SET sDestination=%sUserProfile%\%gAppDir%
SET sDestinationFile=%sDestination%%gAppFileName%
SET sDestinationVersionFile=%sDestination%%gVersionFileName%
 
SET sSourceVersion=0
SET sDestinationVersion=0
 
ECHO Source Version File: %sSourceVersionFile%
ECHO Current Version File: %sDestinationVersionFile%
 
SET /p sSourceVersion=<%sSourceVersionFile%
SET /p sDestinationVersion=<%sDestinationVersionFile%
IF "%sDestinationVersion%"=="" (SET sDestinationVersion=0)
 
ECHO .
ECHO Application: %sSourceFile%
ECHO Local Directory: %sDestination%
ECHO Current Version: %sDestinationVersion%
ECHO Availiable Version: %sSourceVersion%
ECHO .
 
IF NOT EXIST %sDestination% (
ECHO Making Destination Directory...
MKDIR %sDestination%
)
 
IF NOT %sDestinationVersion% == %sSourceVersion% (
ECHO Installing latest Version of the Application to the Local Computer
ECHO Please be patient, this should take no more than 30 Seconds...
COPY %sSourceFile% %sDestinationFile%
ECHO Copying Version File to Local Computer...
COPY %sSourceVersionFile% %sDestinationVersionFile%
)
 
START "MSACCESS.exe" %sDestinationFile%