Access 2007 open mdb (2000) file read-only

[X. Zhang]

I have a Access 2000 mdb file security with mdw file. I use the following
shortcut to open the mdb file:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office9\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\Program
Files\TIMS Client Access\tims2K.mde" /Runtime /WRKGRP "C:\Program Files\TIMS
Client Access\system.mdw" /user <username> /pwd <password>

And I can open it with Access 2000, 2002 and 2003 without any problem. But
recently, I tried Access 2007. I changed the shortcut access location to
Office12 (Access 2007) and double click the shortcut. It always open the mdb
file in read-only mode, which is NOT what I wanted. The message bar in Access
2007 shows:

"Read-Only This database has been opened read-only. You can only change data
in linked tables. To make design changes, save a copy of the database."

I even tried to open the mdb inside Access: Open->Select mdb file->Open/Open
Exclusively (tried both), STILL IT WAS OPENED READ-ONLY!!

What I want is to open mdb file in normal read-write mode. How to do that?
Or something wrong with the mdb file? or bad compitable issues?

Thanks for any hints.

 

[Joan Wild]

Try removing the /runtime switch.

 

[X. Zhang]

Yes, I did remove /runtime. It did not work. And as I mentioned, I tried to
open mdb file inside Access, which I don't think that it has /runtime option.

 

[Joan Wild]

Double-check the properties of the mdb file in Windows Explorer.

You say you tried to open it within Access. 2007 doesn't support security
anymore, so how are you ensuring you're joined to the correct secure mdw,
when you try this method?

 

[X. Zhang]

File properties no problem: read-only check box is CLEARED.

At this point, I do care the security.

BTW, I'm working on Windows Vista and Access 2007.

 

[Joan Wild]

File properties no problem: read-only check box is CLEARED.

At this point, I do care the security.

I'm not sure what this means?

I have successfully opened a secure mdb (note it can't be accdb format) in
2007, but only if I use the correct mdw. You do this by using a desktop
shortcut. So I don't understand how you are opening it from within Access.

I don't know why it would be opened read-only.

 

[X. Zhang]

Found the problem. Somehow, Windows Vista has different security
implemetations.

The current login user, e.g. xidongz, in the local Administrators group and
I give local Administrators Full Control to the folder that contains my mdb
file. It seems that this group permission has problem.

I tried to create a local group name TIMSUSERS and added xidongz to this
group, then grand full control to TIMSUSER on this folder. No luck.

After I either explicitly give the current user xidongz 'Modify' permission
or give the Users group 'Modify' permission to this folder, everything works
fine.

To double confirm, I removed 'xidongz' or 'Users', leave local
Administrators and TIMSUSERS, the read-only problem happened again.

 

[Joan Wild]

You are mixing up the Access users/groups with the Windows users/groups.
They are not connected in any way.

All users of the database (regardless of version), need 'modify' permission
(Windows permission) on the folder where the mdb is located.

You would do this by granting this to the Windows username, or more likely
to a Windows group they are a member of.

This is needed so that a ldb file can be created in the folder. Without the
ability to create the ldb, the mdb will be opened exclusively.

 

[X. Zhang]

I'm very aware of they are two different things. I never mixed them up.
That's why I mentioned I did not care the mdw security.

I was saying was that even I created a windows local group TIMSUSERS and
added my account xidongz to it, then granted 'Modify' to TIMSUSER on the
folder, I still could not open mdb in r/w mode, that is, could not create ldb
file.

Thank you anyway.

 

[Joan Wild]

I'm no expert on Windows security, but I think you have to update the folder
permissions after creating the group - something like apply to all
folders/subfolders/