Your thoughts on Fe/Be Set-up Please

[SmallTime]

Hi all,

I work for a firm that has some 500 users of which some 50 use a database that I developed, concurrent usage is somewhere around the 30 mark.

Previously we’ve all had full access rights to the local ‘C’ drive. However, recently a new IT Manager took up post and he’s removed all access rights to the local drive. It’s No loner visible to us and we can’t install anything locally. Unfortunately for me this also means I can no longer install MSA Runtime on new machines or update my MDE’s.

I’ve had numerous discussions with this chap and he’s adamant that absolutely no one, under any circumstances will be allowed to have access to their local drives. No reason why, it’s just a policy change.

He’s suggested that I was wrong in distributing the front end (MDE) to every local machine and instead should have a single front end on a shared drive that everyone logs onto. I know this is wrong, but he says he’s been developing Access databases for many, many years and he knows from experience this is the correct setup.

I intend to take this up again next week but would like to be armed solid reasons why he’s suggested set-up is mistaken and try to get him to be a little more flexible in allowing access to the local drive.

However, before I get too entrenched I’d appreciate some thoughts from the community.

 

[ceh4702]

Everytime someone complains give them his phone number.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[PRPhx]

You could also try going above him to HIS boss and explain what's going on, and why things need to be returned to the way they were.

How large is your IT department? How are upgrades supposed to be accomplished? I'd want to overload this guy with all the BS calls I could come up with.

How would performance be impacted if every db user was on the system at once, doing as much work as possible? Enough calls about poor performance might get his attention and get him to change his tune.

 

[danvlas]

Maybe a compromise...

Not full access on C drive, but full access on the folder where the mde is located...

If he does not agree, you could tell the guy that a 'single-shared mde' is an 'excellent idea' as long as there are no concurrent users on temporary objects . Then...do something to corrupt the shared mde file and let (all) users yell at him )

He'll change his mind.

HTH




Daniel Vlas
Systems Consultant

http://www.geocities.com/danvlas/AutoMail.html

 

[SmallTime]

Thanks for all your responses. Daniel, the thought of setting him up is so pleasing that I'm having a hard time convincing myself not to go along with it.

In fact, what I'm going to do is bounce this up a level and everyone know what the shortcomings will be. If they can't sort it out then I’ll go along with what he says and just wait for the inevitable.

Of course I'll make hourly backups. When the whole thing falls down around his ears I'll let him sweat it for a couple of days before restoring files.


Many thanks, I'll keep you posted on how things develop.

 

[MajP]

On your opening splash screen put this messages

For 24 hour technical service with this database
call "Put his name Here"
Phone: xxx-xxxx; cell xxx-xxxx

But by "mistake" put his his home numbers on it. Then when he asks, say, "Oops my bad. I wish I could fix it, but I can not since I do not have rights to the folder.

 

[SmallTime]

Sorry for taking while to give you an update, things are moving along at a snails pace. He started talking about unauthorised software, reporting me to internal audit for harassing him! IT would never give me support and a whole load of other stuff.

Anyhow, this is where we’re. I emailed my boss who emailed his boss who in turn instructed him to come to a workable solution. I then got a half baked appology, but still no agreement. I'm led to understand he's been asked to make an appointment to come an see me over the next two weeks.

I'll let you know how things turn out.

 

[foxdbs]

Yes, we haven't enough problems to develop software, so we need additional problems with such crazy IT managers.

Cannot help something with SUBST command,
f.e. SUBST e: \\server\netdir\userdir ?

(and "userdir" (maybe) you can give as a parameter in the starting command)

 

[ceh4702]

You might try asking him about what his reasoning is. There may be some data that some department does not want public. Maybe by restricting access to certain views people will be happy.

One way you can get some data to back up your position is to ask the departments to send you some comments on the situation and have each department manager explain whey they need access to the data. If he can see that the departments heads are asking for the information, then maybe he will have to address their issues. Often in IT we get stuck between the forces of company politics.

When decisions like this are made the IT manager should have to send his policy in writing to the department heads instead of you trying to explain his policy to them. Otherwise you end up like a punching bag in a free for all.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[SmallTime]

Update,

After writing to my department head a meeting was convened with this chap and his line manager. Well, under these circumstances he was a different man. every so helpful and agreed to everything I asked. He even offered to write some script for me to assist with update(which I declined).

I'm still scratching my head over what the hell he was on about just a few weeks ago? He gave no explanation except to say "IT was devising a new policy". Meant nothing to me then and still doesn’t now, I was just glad he gave way so didn't pursue the point any further.

Now whenever I speak with him he sounds like a long lost friend! Maybe the drugs are wearing off.

How bizarre.