i got my database up and running. i am planning to put an upgrade weekly. i was wondering if anyone knows how to make their users aware that there is a new upgrade. i do have a zip self extracter on everyone's desktop but how do i make it mandatory for users to upgrade to new version. i have seen it done before. so if anyone knows please help me out. thanks.

also, thanks to everyone who helped me get this database up and running. you all have helped me bigtime.

One way (I'm sure there are many) is:
Create a new "control" database that contains a single table. The table should contain the last update date and time for the "master" front end. Add the same table to the "master" front end database before you zip it. Link the front end to the datestamp table in the control database. There will now be two copies of the datestamp table. A local one and a linked one. In the autoexec add a function that compares the datestamps from the two tables, if they are equal, the database should open normally. If they are different, refuse to open the front end and display a message that a new copy must be downloaded before the database can be used again.

[This message has been edited by Pat Hartman (edited 04-19-2000).]

WOW...i figured this out...thanks for the idea!

[This message has been edited by gino (edited 05-01-2000).]