passwords 1

[malauton]

I am pretty new to this stuff, so can you help???

I have a DB that is used by 4 people in an office. All the records are identified by a unique no which i use as the P key. The records are about people and a unique No relates to a person, making the record anonymous to all veiwers. I want a table linked to this Key that is password protected containing names and addresses. Thus only designeted individual(s) can see the persons name related to the record. The table must be fully protected so people can not gain access to the raw table from the database window.

Hope that is clear

And thanx!
Mal

 

[FancyPrairie]

You need to use the Security Wizard. This will protect your databases so that only authorized users can access them. The wizard will (among other things) create a workgroup file (.mdw). Thru the security wizard you can define what users have access to your system. Each user will have their own name and password. I would then, via the security wizard, define at least 2 groups; the first group would have limited access to your forms, tables, etc. The second group would have full access (or how ever you want it).

Note that by default, your systems already have security. It's just not turned on. To turn it on, via the Security wizard, assign a password to user Admin (which is the default user of all systems). From that point on, everytime you access any unsecured database, you will be asked to enter your name and password. The workgroup file Access uses as the default is System.mdw. The reason I tell you this is that you should make a copy of the System.mdw file before you start messing around with Security in case you mess something up. Also, make backup copies of your database before attempting security.

Many people have trouble with setting up security. What follows are the steps I use to do it. Works for me.

1. Backup your System.mdw file in case you mess up (this is the one that ships with Microsoft). Also backup your database.
2. Open your database
3. Add a new user (i.e. MyAdminsUser) Make sure this new user is a member of the group "Admins" (This user represents the Administrator of the project and, as such, will have all rights to the database)
4. Assign a password to user Admin (User Admin is the default user for unsecured databases)
(By assigning a password for Admin, you will be forced to login to Access everytime you open a database. Don't worry about, will take care of that later.)
5. Exit Access
6. Restart you database (Access will ask you to login. Login as the new user (no password)
7. Start the Security Wizard
8. In the first screen check the box entitled "Create a new workgroup information file"
9. Select Next
10. In the second screen, select Browse (located to the right of the file name field). At this point you will name your workgroup file (I would suggest putting your new workgroup file in a location that everyone will access (i.e. a network server))
11. Select the check box entitled "I want to create a shortcut to open my secured database"
12. Select Next
13. On the third screen, simply select Next (You'll want to secure all existing database objects)
14. On the fourth screen, simply select next (Don't select any groups to be included in your workgroup information file)
15. On the fifth screen, select the check box entitled "No, the Users group should not have any permissions"
16. Select Next
17. The sixth screen asks you to list the names of users you want added to this workgroup. The only one you want included is the new user you created earlier. Add the new user to the list. By default, your network name is shown, remove it. The new user should be the only one in the list.
18. Select Next
19. On the seventh screen, select the check box entitled "Select a user and assign the user to groups". The field entitled "Group or User Name" should contain the name of the new user you created earlier. And the Group Admins must be checked.
20. Select Next
21. Select Finish

You now have a secured workgroup. Now, login in using the new user's name and create your groups and users and assign rights to them via the Security tool. (I seldom assign rights to my users. Rather I assign rights to the groups and then assign the users to the groups)

You'll need to do the above steps for your back-end database also.

When you are done, you will want to remove the password for user Admin in the System.mdw file. So, launch access and open an unsecured database, it will ask you to enter your name and password. Enter "Admin" and the password you assigned to Admin in step 4 above. Once you are into the database, remove the password for user Admin.

 

[malauton]

WOW

Thanx for all that---I will try it out tomorrow, weve had buddies round tonight and Im tired and emotional--it is 1.00 am So gnight Ill try it when i can and reply

thanx again

Mal