Why can't I open my MSysAccounts in the workgroup?

[Shawn]

I have a database that I use for logging Technical Calls for my company.
I've put a shortcut on my desktop months ago, with no problems. Now, the
only way that I can open the database is from the shortcut. Anytime I
attempt to open the database from its original file, or if I create another
shortcut the message "Could not open table 'MSysAccounts' in the workgroup
information file." comes up. I copied the target from the original shortcut
and compared it to the new shortcut. Here's the results:

Good (original) Shortcut's Target:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\Documents and
Settings\Shawn Knapp.BENNETT-INDIANA\My Documents\Call Logs\Call Logs
2003.mdb" /WRKGRP "C:\Documents and Settings\Shawn Knapp.BENNETT-INDIANA\My
Documents\Call Logs\Security.mdw"

Bad (new) shortcut's Target:
"C:\Documents and Settings\Shawn Knapp.BENNETT-INDIANA\My Documents\Call
Logs\test.mdb"

If I simply copy and past the good Target to the new shortcut then it will
work. How can I fix this?

 

[Douglas J Steele]

Your shortcut points to a specific security file (the last argument), so you
probably want to use the shortcut rather than simply double-clicking on the
file or using a shortcut that doesn't include the security file.

The implication is that there's something wrong with the default security
file that's being used when you don't use the "good" shortcut.

 

[Shawn]

How can I point the original file (and any future shortcuts) to the "good"
security file? Can I simply locate it (via the target), copy it and paste it
where the default security file is?

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

That should work.

 

[Shawn]

Why wouldn't the new shortcut include the Security File like the original
(working) one? Also, I noticed that the original (working) target is
something like ".../WRKGP..." included in this. The new (non-working) one
doesn't. Could this be part of the problem?

Bottom line, how can I make the new shortcuts work automatically?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Douglas J Steele]

Yes, that's likely the problem.

Remember, my original response to you was "Your shortcut points to a
specific security file (the last argument), so you probably want to use the
shortcut rather than simply double-clicking on the file or using a shortcut
that doesn't include the security file."

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by making "the new shortcuts work
automatically". Are you asking why you can't just create a shortcut by
selecting the MDB file and creating a shortcut? It's because you need to
include the reference to /WRKGRP in the shortcut, and in order to do that,
you must include the full path to msaccess.exe as well.

 

[Shawn]

Thank you for your patience with me. My only confusion is: How did I get
the first shortcut to work properly? If, when I create a new shortcut from
the .MDB file, it doesn't automatically target all files needed. Also, I
make a back-up of my database and, at times, use it on another PC (another
office). It will never work because the target will not be the same on that
PC. Right?

Again, thank you.

 

[Douglas J Steele]

Unfortunately, there's no magic solution that I'm aware of. If you're
creating a shortcut, you'll need to use one that works as a template. (You
do realize, I hope, that you can copy shortcuts like any other files, and
then change the properties of the one you copied).

 

[Shawn]

Doug,
Thank you for your time and patience.

Unfortunately, there's no magic solution that I'm aware of. If you're
creating a shortcut, you'll need to use one that works as a template. (You
do realize, I hope, that you can copy shortcuts like any other files, and
then change the properties of the one you copied).