Security question regarding sharing database

[scottmvinovrski]

Hi everyone,
I am going to be implemeting security on my split database but have a question? The database will have the back end on a shared drive and I will copy the front end to the desktops of the people who will use the database. My question is such that when I use the Access security wizard it creates a shortcut on my personal PC. Can I simply create security access levels, then create the shortcut on my computer, and then copy the shortcut from my PC to every user that will use the front end? Will I just need the shortcut on the associates desktop or do I need a copy of the entire database? I will have a max of 30 users but probably no more than 5 logged on at a time. I have read and searched and couldnt find anything that actually answers that question? Thanks for all your assistance.
Scott

 

[The_Doc_Man]

First, you can find LOTS of threads on this topic by searching

Security
Workgroup Security
Securing a Database
Split Databases
Front-End (and/or) Back-End and their abbreviations.

Once you have searched for the threads, you might find that your question has already been answered. We really don't mind helping, but a Search is always proper so that we don't have to spend too much time re-inventing wheels.

 

[scottmvinovrski]

Doc Man,
Thank you and I understand your position on searching the forum first. I have done that and there are a vast amount of great responces from everyone on here that supports this forum. That being said my confusion still has not been answered. I understand making a copy of the front end and copying it onto everyone's desktop. And I also understand that everyone must have complete access to the shared drive folder as well. My question is when I use the security wizard, it creates a shortcut on my desktop. Once groups and users are assigned different roles and the shortcut is finally created , can I copy the shortcut from my computer and paste the short cut for everyone I copied the front end on their computer? It seems to me that I wouldnt need to load the front end onto their computer if I was going to just copy the shortcut? Please advise if I am way off since it wouldnt be the first time since I am relatively new. As always thank you.
Scott

 

[scottmvinovrski]

If anyone can explain how they setup the shared drive database as far as shortcut with security please advise if my thoughts are not correct. Why would you load a copy of the front end onto everyones computer and then create a shortcut that directs them to your shared drive? Can someone clear up the grey for me? Thank you.

 

[Dennisk]

Backend and workgroup file on network and either individual FE's on HDs or one pulled off the network. Then use a shortcut on each PC

Access appears to load best if you specify the command line as such

"C:\myPathToOffice\MSAccess.exe" "T:\myDrive\MyFE.mdb" /WRKGRP "T:myDrive\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

 

[scottmvinovrski]

Dennisk,
Thank you for the follow up. That appears to be clear now. 1 question though. If they have a copy of the front end on their computer and a shortcut, couldn't the user simply click on the front end and get full access rather than clicking on the shortcut?? Just trying to play devil's advocate because I am sure someone will try this.

 

[Dennisk]

Scott, One a database has been secured you have to specify the workgroup in the command line or join the workgruop manually. Just clicking on the .mdb will give 'you do not have the necessary permissions to use the - Databasename'

 

[The_Doc_Man]

scott, to answer your question regarding the shortcut.

If you are using uniformly configured machines, it would be OK to create the shortcut on your machine, then copy it to the shared drive and tell everyone to copy it to their desktop or other favorite place for same. But THIS assumes that the FE is ALSO on the shared drive AND STAYS THERE. Which defeats the optimization brought about by FE/BE splits.

The better way to do this is put the FE on the shared drive and invite the users to copy it once to their favorite place. Then the example above changes slightly because the path to the FE is on the local (C?) drive instead of the shared (T?) drive.

But the /WRKGRP option would stay the same in the shortcut because you WANT everyone to use the same workgroup. You DO NOT want them copying that to the local drive.

 

[scottmvinovrski]

Thank you both for your help. This does give me the understanding on how to complete the task as painless as possible!

 

[MrsGorilla]

Someone else from the forum posted a link to this also:

http://www.headwaysystems.com/ShortcutBuilder.htm

I've found it to be invaluable when I'm making shortcuts for people to access my secured DB. You just tell it where the FE, BE, and Workgroup file are located and it creates the shortcut for you. You can even specify whether you want it to add a username switch so the login box always populates the username, then just waits for the password. Very handy.