Funny exclusive access problem

[lscheer]

OK,
I've read through many posts here looking for an answer and can't seem to find one that really addresses my particular problem. I've had experience with the exclusive access numerous times before, so am aware of the "typical" problems and fixes. This one has me stumped, though.

I have a db that is on a network drive. Workgroup security is set up on it with only the administrator (me) set to "exclusive access" under the permissions. I have a blanket read-only user logon that most of the others in my office use. I thought at first this problem only arose when others but me opened it, but it seems to come and go.

Basically, I get the "you do not have exclusive access to the database at this time, if you proceed any changes you make may not be saved" error message whenever anyone logs into the database FROM ONE PARTICULAR COMPUTER ONLY. The message appears and you can click OK, then it reappears about a dozen or so times. Finally, it lets you use the database, and can make data changes, etc. but no design changes. Another thing is this happens no matter if another user has the db open or not. There is no ldb file in the directory when the database has been closed, but it does appear as it's supposed to when it opens.

I've checked the workgroup file, and it's fine, I tried opening it from the main file and from the desktop shortcut, I also tried opening Access first then finding the file and using the "Open/Open Exclusive" drop down menu from the file browsing window, and that seems to help; if I select "Open" it opens with out the error message. If I select "Open Exclusive" it tells me I don't have permissions to open exclusively (this is using the read-only login), but proceeds to let me "open" the database without the other error message that appears a bunch of times.

One other thing, I thought it was the computer and/or that maybe the program (Access) had gotten corrupted somehow, so the IT guys replaced the computer and reinstalled Office 2000, and it's still doing it. Again, like I said, this is only happening on one computer, which has been changed out even...

I'm totally at a loss here so any thoughts on troubleshooting this or remedying this would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ghudson]

Access 2000 and newer will not let you make design changes if another user also has the db file open. It is just warning you of the fact you can not make design changes if and when you go into the design mode of a db object.

That might not be your situation but that is normally what that warning message means.

 

[lscheer]

Yes, as I mentioned, I am familiar with this error message and what it means, when it usually happens.

The part that is confusing is that it appears even when nobody else has the db open, and it appears repeatedly.

 

[ghudson]

Your permissions might not be set correctly so that even you the programmer can not open the db exclusively.

Does everybody have delete rights to the directory that the db is located in? They must have delete rights to that directory.

Does the *.ldb file only contain your computer name when this happens? That would help prove that somebodies PC is not releasing the db file when they close the db file. But the *.ldb files does not always drop the user name after they exit the db when somebody else has the db file open.

 

[lscheer]

The error message appears EACH TIME any user opens the database (except me, the administrator). I am the only one with permissions for the db set to open exclusive. The only time it appears when I log on is when another user has the db open, then, as it does for others every time, the error message appears multiple times.

AGAIN, THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON ONE SINGLE WORKSTATION...I nobody has experienced this error message problem when logging onto the db from other computers...

 

[ghudson]

Just a guess but do you have Administrative rights to the PC that the exclusive problem is happening on? Is that PC somehow limited with the user rights the tech folks gave that PC.

 

[lscheer]

Yes, I'm also an administrator on the computer (including the network drive where the database is located)

 

[jwusko]

I have run into the exact same problem. Has anyone been able to help resolve this issue?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

If the computer is in a more or less normal Windows domain, don't forget that TWO sets of permissions are involved. Maybe more than two.

First, the user has permissions related to him/herself AND to any groups to which the user belongs. If ANY ONE of those permissions includes a DENY, there you have it. Because one DENY cancels a thousand ALLOWs. (Just like awshits and attaboys.)

Second, the COMPUTER has an account on the domain. (That's the only way it can join the domain when you boot up the machine before the user logs on. And you MUST access the domain when the user logs on 'cause the machine doesn't authenticate users on workstations. The domain controller does that.) See if by odd chance the computer's permissions are specified on that drive and they include a DENY for some bizarre reason. Or if the computer account is a member of a group and the group has some bizarre DENY permissions.

Third, look for a problem in the "mapping" path associated with that oddball computer. There are limits to the number of steps in a path. If that machine maps the drive differently from the others, there is a potential source of errors.

Fourth, see if the .LDB file is truly empty when no one else is logged on. If even one time you had a case where someone's machine aborted, deadlocked, issued the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH, etc. while the .LDB file was open, you run the risk of having a blocked-up .LDB file. Which can have all sorts of deleterious effects.

 

[adickie]

I had the same problem and it turned out to be caused by the menu bar button that Adobe Acrobat installs in Access. After I changed Acrobat to not have a button in Access the problem went away.

Hope this helps.

 

[Vicar]

Hey, adickie, right on the money, in my case though it was Avery personall assistant! Couldn't get rid of the toolbar, no matter what i tried. Had to uninstall it, to use DB.
Thanks for the tip.
V

 

[Dembrey]

Just had this problem, turned out to be the Adobe menu item - thanks adickie.

Unfortunately I had to uninstalled Adobe before I could get rid of the offending menu item. So adickie or anyone else? could let me know how to "change Acrobat to not have a button in Access". I can't find it in the Adobe options anywhere.

Cheers.

 

[adickie]

If I remember correctly the only way to get rid of the buttons is to uninstall Acrobat and then you can make the selection for Acrobat not to install those menu buttons when you reinstall Acrobat. You may have to select custom install rather than typical install. I'm sorry I can't give you any more detail than that; it has been awhile since I last installed Acrobat.

 

[Dembrey]

adickie,

Thanks for that. That's what I did eventually. I was just hoping there was an easier way than going through the uninstall/install route.

Cheers anyway.

 

[jcgarci]

Thank you everybody for your information. I removed the PDF Creator from Access and now my application is working fine!

Go to control panel, Add or Remove Programs, select Adobe Acrobat, click Change/Remove, select Modify,click on Create Adobe PDF, select Acrobat PDF Maker, click on Microsoft Access and select this feature will not be available. Finish the process and reboot your machine.

 

[dearsina]

Very useful, this solved my problem too. Thank you.

 

[vd_patel]

New Post and exclusive access error

how to post new question?

i hv same problem using my faswin.mde access 2000 database file on multiple computers using LAN and win-XP giving "You do not have exclusive access this time..." error. i opened my faswin.mde database in shared mode option and edited record level locking. Pl. help me.