Hide backend folder

[BruceM]

I have seen suggestions for hiding the share in which the backend files are
located (split database, Access 2003, User-level security). The suggestion
I have seen Joan Wild post is:

\\servername\share$ rather than
\\servername\share will hide it

However, I can't quite sort out what that means. Do I need to get the
newtwork administrator to create a share on the server with a $ appended to
the share name? If so, and if this share is hidden in Windows Explorer, how
do I put anything into it? Would I type the path in the navigation pane in
Windows Explorer?

The server is backed up daily, so I'm not especially concerned about data
loss. However, I would like to guard against accidental or casual deletion.
A hidden share would help.

BTW, is a share the same thing as a network drive? It's hard to look this
up, as I can't find a way to phrase a narrowly-targeted search string
containing hte word "share".

 

[Joan Wild]

I have seen suggestions for hiding the share in which the backend files are
located (split database, Access 2003, User-level security). The suggestion
I have seen Joan Wild post is:

\\servername\share$ rather than
\\servername\share will hide it

However, I can't quite sort out what that means. Do I need to get the
newtwork administrator to create a share on the server with a $ appended
to the share name? yes

If so, and if this share is hidden in Windows Explorer, how do I put
anything into it? Would I type the path in the navigation pane in Windows
Explorer?

yes. Note also, that if users know the pathname, they too can get to it
using this method. It just won't show up in the list of folders.

BTW, is a share the same thing as a network drive? It's hard to look this
up, as I can't find a way to phrase a narrowly-targeted search string
containing hte word "share".

A share is a folder that is shared. Quite often users will have a 'mapped
drive' which is just a mapping to the shared folder.

 

[BruceM]

Thanks for the information. I was away from the computer for the weekend,
which is why I haven't responded until now.

I'll have to see about having the network administrator set up a hidden
share, but I have my doubts that will happen. I figured if I could get in
by typing the path somebody else could too. The main thing is I am trying
to guard against casual mischief or accidental deletion, but there is a
daily backup in any case. Maybe I can just hide the folder. Most users
can't view those, or change the settings to allow viewing them. If trouble
develops I can make a case for a hidden share.

Mapped drive, yes, that's what I was trying to say. Terminology can be a
bit fluid, so I wanted to be sure.

 

[Joan Wild]

I'll have to see about having the network administrator set up a hidden
share, but I have my doubts that will happen. I figured if I could get in
by typing the path somebody else could too.

That is true, but if you're going to hide the folder, why would you tell
people the pathname - they don't need to know it.

 

[BruceM]

I wouldn't tell people the path (except maybe one or two to back me up). I
was trying to say I understand that typing the path would work for anybody
who happened to know it, but I didn't go on to say I would keep that
information mostly secret.