Merge Docs and Access DB

[Ben Johnson]

Hi,

I've created an Access 2002 database for a client. They
have a number of pre-existing documents that they use to
merge info from the database to send out to customers. The
database is split so that the tables reside on the server
and the "Interface" (ie. everything but the tables) resides
on each of the two user's PC's. The tables in the
"interface" are linked to the tables on the server.

The query that provides the data to be merged into the
documents runs in the "Interface", which means it's
separate for each user. This means that when the merge
document (which is housed on the server) attempts to
connect to the data source it has to point to either one
user's "Interface" or the other user's "Interface". This
creates a problem, obviously, as it means that only one
user can access the merge documents without having to go
through the process of re-establishing the link to the data
source.

Is there a simple-ish solution to being able to let both
users have access to the merge letters without the need to
change the data connection, and also without having to keep
separate copies of the merge letters on each user's PC
(annoying to make changes)?

Kind regards,
Ben Johnson

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Could you put one instance of the front-end "interface" database on the
server and use that as the data source? (I don't know if it can be made to
work, but perhaps worth a try. I suspect most other approaches would simply
shift the problem in some way because instead of the local Access databse,
you would probably need some other local file or object (e.g. ODBC DSN) to
enable you to make the connection.