Can't create new query, table, or form

[KErickson]

Many years ago, someone at our company created a database. It has not been
updated or maintained. The employee is long retired. We can use the data
better if we tweek the database organization a little. Some type of security
has been applied to the database; I can't create any new tables, queries, or
forms. Does anyone have any ideas on how to "break" the security?

 

[Scott McDaniel]

Many years ago, someone at our company created a database. It has not been
updated or maintained. The employee is long retired. We can use the data
better if we tweek the database organization a little. Some type of security
has been applied to the database; I can't create any new tables, queries, or
forms. Does anyone have any ideas on how to "break" the security?

That depends on how the database was "secured". If your database was compiled to the .mde format, then you really can't
get back to design view of the Forms/Reports/Modules ... in this case, your only hope would be to locate the original
..mdb that was used and make changes there. Note that there are some companies advertising that they can break the .mde
format, but I have no experience with them and thus no way to know how complete or thorough this process is.

However, since you mention that you also cannot modify tables or queries, you might have a database that was secured
using ULS. If that's the case, then you'll need a login that has Admins permissions, or is the Owner of the database in
order to manipulate permissions. If you don't have that login, there are several programs available that can "crack" the
passwords in the database, and a quick search will turn up a huge number of hits.

Scott McDaniel
scott@takemeout_infotrakker.com
www.infotrakker.com