I want to save my current database for deployment, from and .mdb to an .mde. But I was wondering, when I want to update forms and such, do I need to convert it back to an .mdb to work with? If so, what is the process for that conversion and how to I bring the data if the conversion is not possible.

Example, I save today from mdb -> mde. Next week a form revision is needed, so we make the changes in the mdb and save a new mde file, but the weeks data is in the other database. How do I extract that data? Is a copy/paste possible from the tables in the mde? Do I use replication?

Thanks for the answers, sorry if this seems silly.

pat,
Your data can be retrieved by dropping your tables and importing
them into the "current" database. You can not modify the forms
in the .MDE file though. That's what a .MDE is.

Wayne

Thanks for the quick reply - by "dropping" the tables out of the MDE, do you mean exporting? Or is there a special "dropping" method?

Thanks again,

Pat

Pat,

Essentially, your .MDE is a closed "black box". If you want to
make changes to your forms, reports, code, etc. Then you have
to go back to your "original" .MDB copy and make changes
there. Then you can Delete all of the tables in your "Original"
copy because the data is out-of-date. Then finally you can
import the tables from the .MDE into your .MDB and make
another .MDE from your "current" .MDB.

It would probably be easier to "split" your database into
a front end/back end. Then when you have new software
updates, simply give the users a new .MDB or .MDE front
end. The data will remain current in an isolated place.

Wayne

Wayne, thanks for the assist. I do want to split the database, which would solve a lot of my questions. I had a question in another thread, maybe you can answer it?

Just wondering if there's anything I should know ahead of time about splitting a database that has Workgroup security (i.e. is accessed via a shortcut through secured.mdw) already deployed. Is there anything special I should do/pay attention to?

Thanks again!

Once I deploy the MDE, is there an easy way to get everyone's current Secured shortcuts to point to the MDE? Or will I have to resetup workgroup security for the MDE.

Currently, everyone has a shortcut that points to Secured.mdw and is the workgroup security file for the MDB.

Thanks again for all the assistance,

Pat