multiple users cannot open

[Karen]

In Access 97, my six users were all able to open and enter
data in the db at the same time---LAN. Everything
synchronized. No problems. Now that we have converted to
Access 2000, sometimes only one person can have the db
open at one time. Seems to be no rhyme or reason why some
days two or three can have it open at the same time but
other days only one. Is this a change with Access 2000?

 

[Van T. Dinh]

Is it possible that one user opens the database in Exclusive mode but you
didn't pick up the pattern?

Check and make sure every user's Access is set to open in Shared mode. If
they use shortcut icons, check the command-line string also as one user may
have the Exclusive flag in the command-line String.

HTH
Van T. Dinh
MVP (Access)

 

[Karen]

Well, I found the Tools > Options > Advanced tab and
checked - we all have our default open mode set to
shared. I am the only user not using a desktop shortcut
though. Can you tell me how to check the command line
string?

Karen

 

[Van T. Dinh]

Go to each computer, right-click on the icon and select Properties. In the
target line, if you see something like:

.... \msaccess.exe {PathnametoYourMdb} ... /excl

then REMOVE the "{space}/excl" because the argument /excl specify to open
the database in exclusive mode.

 

[Karen]

Still no luck. I checked out these properties. We
actually have 2 icons. The first is to the Access
Application. The target line just says (grayed out):
Microsoft Office 2000 SR-1 Professional.

We have another icon that is to our info in the database I
created. It is just the pathname where I stored the
tables and is something like:
\\Training\PGA\DB\PGAReporting.mdb

I cannot find this command line stuff anywhere. There are
only six of us on a shared drive and we all six need to be
able to enter into the db and have it open at one time.

All I know is that this worked fine under Access 97. I
never knew about any of these issues. Ever since we
upgraded, this has started happening. My users are
getting annoyed with me for not fixing this yet I cannot
figure out where/how.

Any suggestions on what else I can try? I've been reading
help files in Access. Still no luck.

Thanks,

Karen

 

[Karen]

Here is the message I'm receiving. However, I cannot
find "exclusive" checked anywhere. Read the post below
here to see my command line info.

"You attempted to open a database that is already open
exclusively by user 'Admin' on machine 'B00D059AA3A1E.'
Try again when the database is available."

Could this occur because I have all of us set to 'Admin'
rights? With only six of us, I never did anything special
with the rights.

I don't have "exclusive" checked anywhere and it is not in
my command line.

We also often get this message: "The database S:\...
needs to be repaired or isn't a database file. You or
another user may have unexpectedly quit Microsoft Access
while a Microsoft Access database was open. Do you want
Microsoft Access to attempt to repair the database? Yes,
No" What does this message mean?

Thanks - surely I'll get to the bottom of this soon.

Karen

 

[Van T. Dinh]

No problems with all users using "Admin".

Try this in the mean time:

Make sure every exits from the from the database (and stays out until
advised). Go to the directory the database (the dot-mdb file) is stored.
Locate the file with the name {DatabaseName}.ldb and delete this dot-ldb
file (MAKE SURE you delete the dot-LDB file and NOT the dot-mdb file).

You may not be able to delete this file since it may be marked as locked by
someone. If you can't get network admin people to close and delete it for
you.

After that YOU try to open the database and if it is OK, advise other users
to try.


Now from what I understand, you need to do the following:

1. (important) Keep regular back-up of your database! Daily if possible!

2. (important) If you have not split the application to Front-End and
Back-End, you must split it as soon as possible for your multi-user
application. If you don't split the database in your multi-user set-up, you
can corrupt your database easily. The message you got was the sign that
there are corruptions occurring in your database file but Access manages to
repair them. There will be a time when Access won't be able to repair the
corruptions! There are other methods to repair a corrupt database but some
corruptions will not be repairable and your database will be unrecoverable.
Nothing like back-ups for safety.

Check Access Help on splitting a database.

3. There are a few more Service Releases / Service Packs after the Service
Release 1 (SR-1). You should obtain them from the Microsoft Web site and
apply the SR/SPs to all Access database users as soon as possible.

 

[Karen]

Van
Thanks a bunch for responding.

Next week I will split the db - but I am making daily
backups.

But the multiple user problem is still pressing. Here's
the deal with the dot-ldb file:

A dot-ldb file does show up when a user has the db open.
Maybe that file is keeping multiple users out. HOWEVER,
when nobody has the db open, that file disappears. So, if
we follow the instruction below, having everybody get out
of the db to delete the dot-ldb file, it would not work as
there is no dot-ldb file at that time.

Do you have any other tricks?

HOWEVER -- one other thing -- I do not see this being
consistent. Today, four of us tried to open and none of
us received an error message. The other 2 users are not
here today, so don't know if that would have any
impact. ???

Any other thoughts or ideas?

What does "Default Record Locking" Mine is set to "No
locks" -- what does that mean?

There is another box in the options that is checked. It
says: Open databases using record-level locking. Does
that have any impact?

Thanks
Karen