Record Locking Multiuser

[Jeff via AccessMonster.com]

I have created a multiuser database. In order to prevent more than one user
editing the same record I have set the record locks to "edited record"
This seems to create a lot of unwanted record locking issues for the users:
Some records get locked and the only way to unlock them seems to be closing
and reopening the database.
I have thought about putting some unlock buttons on the forms but it would
not work because I have another automated way to lock the records: when the
record is complete a supervisor enters his/her name on the form and this
action locks the record to all users (I do not want to allow any changes to
the records after the supervisor review).
In order to try to get around the record locking issue I create a Record
selector form which lists all open recent records and allows user to pick the
record they want to edit so they go directly to the record without having to
search through the records. However this did not solve my locking issues.
I would like to add one more step: adding the form status (locked or
available) to the Record selector form and prevent record opening if the
record is being edited. How would I be able to do this?
Is this the right way to handle this issue?
Thanks in advance for any response.

 

[-Devin-]

Have you thought about setting the forms to "Data Entry" mode this should
prevent anyone from having the record lock problems. At least that is what
fixed those issues for me on my DB.

Now if I understand correctly you have one user that enters data on the
front end and then a supervisor comes back on the backend and enters data
into the same form?

If thats the case setting it to Data Entry mode will prevent the supervisor
from going back to previous entries. An end run around that is pretty simple
just seperate the front end data entry and the back end data entry on to two
different forms. One for the front end user and one for the supervisor.

Might be a different direction than what you initialy thought but I hope
that helps.