Novell and Access

[AccessHawaii]

I'm working in a Novell environment and the Microsoft Access Database that is on the network is only allowing 1 user to access the database at one time. I checked everything in the database and it's set to allow multiple users and the network guys are telling me that it has nothing to do with the network permissions, which I find hard to believe. Their also telling me that in order to access the database, I can't have user's use shortcuts, they have to access the file directly, which I find very hard to believe. Does anyone know about any bugs between Novell and Access and if it's true that you can't use shortcuts?

 

[vbainchicago]

I'm on Novell with no problems. Do you have the databse set to open in exclusive mode? If so, that will lock other users out.

What message does user #2 get when they try and access the db?

 

[AccessHawaii]

It's not in exclusive mode, that's like the first thing that I checked. The message that comes up is &quot;Could not use <File Location>; File already in Use&quot;. The thing is the database isn't even secured. It's an existing database that they had before I came here and I checked everything and I don't see anything on the Access end that could be causing it but the Network guys insist that it's not a network problem and that you can't use shortcuts to access files through Novell, which makes absolutely no sense.

 

[RichD]

Try this:

Copy the access mdb to your C drive and see if you can open multiple instances. If you can its a network problem. If you can't its an Access problem.

HTH

Rich

Bespoke and off-the-shelf Access solutions

http://www.blsoftware.co.uk

 

[KenReay]

Hi

When an Access Db is openned, a lock file is created (.ldb) in the same folder as the mdb, when the last user closes the mdb, the .ldb is deleted, this means that all users who will access the mdb must have full read/write/create/delete permissions in that directory

have they ?

Regards

Ken Reay
Freelance Solutions Developer
Boldon Information Systems Ltd
Website needs upgrading, but for now -

http://www.kenneth.reay.btinternet.co.uk

UK

 

[AccessHawaii]

Actually, I don't think they have those rights, Ken. It's weird. Myself, and a few others who have different permissions then the other users can all log on at the same time but if one of the users with different permissions then us logs on then everyone is locked out including myself. Is it necessary to give them delete permissions with Novell? I know with Windows NT or XP you don't have to and they can still access the file. I hate the idea of giving them delete rights because that means that they can go into the directory and delete the database.

 

[sfm6s524]

I think your users don't have Create rights to the folder. If Access can't create a ldb file, it opens db in exclusive mode. If they don't have delete rights, not sure what they'll see if they are last user to close and cannot delete ldb file. Maybe ignore the error. But in Novell NDS, you can remove the delete capability at the file level if that's your concern.

 

[BBaggins]

Users must be granted delete rights. If not, the ldb will eventually fill up to its maximum of 255 entries and no one will be able to open the database.

It may be uncomfortable, but you must grant both Create and Delete rights to all users who share an Access database. This is true for both Netware and Windows.

 

[AccessHawaii]

BBaggins,

It seems to be working so far with the delete permissions on but the network guy is telling me that users can't use shortcuts to access the db, which makes no sense because I've been using shortcuts for the test database and it's been working fine.

Is that true with Windows too? I don't remember having to give them delete priviliges but then again Windows doesen't actually have a separate setting for delete permissions does it? It's been awhile since I've worked through Windows but if I remember right, theres certain privileges that you give user that will encompass aspects like creating and deleting.

 

[Hap007]

Dear AccessHawaii,

Ken Reay is correct. The user must have full rights to the Novell directory. They will need read/write/create and delete.

But, to keep your Network guys happy, the 'rights' only need to be granted to the folder(directory) that the access file resides.

I do not know what your Network guys are talking about (Perhaps they think the shortcut is running a network copy of access), but shortcuts will work just fine on a Novell network stored access database. Shortcut should be setup to use your local MS Access (exe) to open the mdb (Frontend). The Frontend(Program) should be local on each PC and the tables in the backend are linked to the Frontend. This scenario works great on Novell

FYI:
Access backend databases actually run better on Novell networks then on windows servers. I hwas able to have upwards of 100 users all connected to the same backend database on novell 3.20. The same setup on a windows server really slowed down. Note: the Access program (frontend) needs to be local on each users PC for this to work.

Good Luck,
Hap


Access Developer

http://www.fcs-software.com/fcsaccessdev.html

Access based Add-on Solutions
Access Consultants forum

http://www.tek-tips.com/groups/accessDevelopers

 

[AccessHawaii]

Thanks for all the help. Too show you how clueless I am about Novell, I started doing some research on it and found out that you can set individual file permissions so even if you give full rights to a directory that the database is in, you can still limit the rights on the Access file to not include delete, which is great because it allows the users to create and delete the lock file but they won't be able to accidentally delete the database, which was my biggest fear. I thought Windows was better for setting directory permissions but after seeing this feature in Novell, I think Novell is a lot better because last time I used Windows in a network environment, the permissions you set on a folder held true for all files in the folder and you couldn't set individual permissions like in Novell.

 

[Dor100]

This is exactly the kind of thread I was looking for. So, it seems that all the db users must have at least Read, Write, Create, and Erase rights to the directory where the database resides. Could someone please verify if Modify rights are also needed as a minimum or not? For instance, if one needs to create the .ldb locking file, is it also true that one needs to exercise Modify rights in order for the .ldb file to receive its name, or is this not the case and are Modify rights not a another minimum requirement for all users? Also, I assume everyone needs File Scan rights as well, or is this perhaps not so? Thanks in advance to anyone who has the 'definitive' answer. I'm on a Novell Client for Windows (2000) using Access XP.

 

[Dor100]

Any fresh Friday morning perspective on the question about Modify rights? (Non-morning time zones more than welcome, too . )

 

[Dor100]

Well, it's getting well into the afternoon now, and I sure hope my fellow Tek-Tipsters aren't going to let me down. What do you say, Tipsters - is Modify a minimum required right, or strictly optional? I won't even burden you further about File Scan. Thanks a bunch to all who come through.

 

[Hap007]

Hi Dor100,

I wish I could help, but I no longer have a Novell server to test with.

Why don't you just create a test account and see if Modify is required?

Have a Great Weekend,
Hap...

Access Developer

http://www.fcs-software.com/fcsaccessdev.html

Access based Add-on Solutions
Access Consultants forum

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=1121

 

[Dor100]

Thanks Hap007. Unfortunately where I am it is very much not quite that simple, otherwise I'd take your advice in a blink.

 

[Dor100]

Ok, I think the light is dawning. Looks like I was on the right track in focusing on those pesky .ldb files. Here's relevant link:

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=306261#post306261

 

[crobg]

Yes, you need to give full rights to the directory. The only thing you can leave off is Supervisor. You make the file a read only. I have several Access databases that have been working on Novell servers for over five years now from Netware 4.11 to 6.5.