Mapped Drives

[Training Spec.]

Hi,

I read that "Microsoft has a relatively-hidden technote recommending against
storing Access databases on mapped drives, due to the potential for file
corruption and application errors that can result when a client workstation
makes changes to a database accessed via Windows file sharing, which is more
meant for sharing entire Word documents and spreadsheets than database
records."

Has anyone else had issues with mapped drives or seen the technote?

Thanks!

 

[tina]

i've never seen the technote, but i *have* had problems in the past with
using linked tables in a FE database that were linked with a path that
included a mapped drive. the general consensus here, as far as i've seen, is
to use the UNC. you can easily link tables that way by navigating through
Network Neighborhood in the linking dialog box.

hth

 

[Chris Mills]

I've never had a problem with mapped drives. Of course, if the drives are not
available when a PC starts up, and the operator presses the wrong options, the
mapped-drive (and database) may no longer be available (but that's just as
expected).

Another problem is, if the mapped drive is a different letter or location on
each PC (some sites actually DO this!), then each PC will have to have the
Front-End separately re-linked. It's normal to have built-in re-link
procedures, still that's slower than re-linking once for a site and then
copying-down to all PC's.

As mentioned, UNC naming is allowed in table linking and avoids mapped drives
changing. Though I can't say it's a problem either way, both can change and
your Front-End nevertheless should have re-linking code.

If a mapped drive becomes unavailable, it more-or-less means the whole program
doesn't work at startup. Access is certainly prone to unreliable networks when
it is running. Is a mapped drive unreliable? (mine aren't more so than
anything else)

I'm not aware of any other reliability issue in this regard. Can you find the
technote? Or even where you read what you quote? If you can't, then it's
irrelevant.

Chris.