Do Not Have Exclusive Access

[access2010]

One of the students in our office made some changes to our Access 2003 Database and now we get this error message when we try to modify a form.

"You do not have exclusive access to the database at this time. If you proceed to make changes, you may not be able to save them later."

Your suggestion is appreciated.
Nicole

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Exclusive access occurs when someone triggers a particular setting. In newer versions of Access, this is File >> Options >> Client Settings >> Advanced, and the setting says "Default open mode is" - then you can check Exclusive or Shared. I'm not exactly sure where that is on older versions, but it is an option you can set for a particular database file.

Exclusive access also occurs when there is a problem with the lock file (.LDB for that version.)

I'm betting on the Open Mode being set to Exclusive and the person left the database open from his/her workstation so the file is now locked in Exclusive Write mode. Make that person's PC shut down for a moment and the problem should resolve itself.

 

[John Sh]

Hi Doc_Man.
I'm having a similar problem on a laptop in develop mode with no one else connected and open shared.
Deleting the laccdb file says unable to deleted because the file is open in Access. The file was closed and Access closed. retry with the same message if I try to modify code or a form layout.
My desktop is down with a boot problem so have moved to the laptop.
John

 

[arnelgp]

check, if by accident the db is opened twice or trice.

 

[John Sh]

check, if by accident the db is opened twice or trice.

I use an external drive for for developing and it had only just been connected to the laptop for the first time when this happened.
I have since had it disconnected and on re-connection all is good.
Access being consistently inconsistent.
Thank you for the reply.
John

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Deleting the laccdb file says unable to deleted because the file is open in Access. The file was closed and Access closed. retry with the same message if I try to modify code or a form layout.

A known problem (not a bug, because it is correct behavior) is having incorrect permissions set on the folder holding the file. For any folder holding any part of your app (i.e. a front-end and back-end can be in different places), you must have MODIFY permissions on all relevant files AND on the folder itself. All folders closer to the drive's root folder must have either READ (permission category) or PASSTHRU (specific permission).

Another known problem (again, not a bug) is that if you have a query AND a recordset open (or a form and query, and some other combinations) and only close one of them, the .LACCDB file IS locked - by Windows file arbitration - and the lock file SHOULDN'T be deleted. There are many ways for you to have something open twice and not realize it, so that when you go to close things down, you can't. You'll have to look at what is open at the time.

I'm having a similar problem on a laptop in develop mode with no one else connected and open shared.

This could also cause a problem if you inadvertently leave some form or report open in design mode when you close Access. That causes Access to be in Exclusive mode regardless of your Exclusive/Shared setting. In essence, Access goes to Exclusive mode if you are going to be changing code or other features out from underneath someone who might be using them at the time. Keeps you from clobbering someone else's work.