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  1. #1
    danhdurso is offline Novice
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    Restricting User Access to database front-end only

    A client wants to allow a new sales rep to use an MS Access contact manager I wrote but they do not want this particluar rep to be able to see any other files or folders on the server other than their user folder and the contact database front end. The contact database backend is located in another folder they want hidden from this rep's view. Does anyone know how to do this? Either with our without VBA code? I have searched all over the internet but cannot seem to find this exact scenario. Most of what I have found relates to a SQL Server backend and my scenario is a pure Access backend (actually, there are two separate databases the contact manager front end links to).



    Any help would be appreciated.

    Dan D'Urso
    949-489-1472

  2. #2
    June7's Avatar
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    Access does not control user access to files. User folder permissions are managed by the server operating system.

    Why would user see other files/folders through Access database?
    How to attach file: http://www.accessforums.net/showthread.php?t=70301 To provide db: copy, remove confidential data, run compact & repair, zip w/Windows Compression.

  3. #3
    danhdurso is offline Novice
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    Thank you for such a quick response. Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. My client is a bond trading firm like Cantor Fitzgerald but much smaller. They have a server with an O drive. They want to set up a new user that has access to their own P drive. For security reasons this new user is not permitted to see any of the files or folders on the O drive. When they login they will see their own P drive and its contents but not the O drive. On the O drive are two corporate databases to be used as back ends: one holds bond trades and another contact information. On the P drive is the contacts front end. We want this front end to access tables in the two back end databases on the O drive even though the O drive is not visible to this user.

    So far I have not been able to find any resources on the internet that can explain how to do it.

  4. #4
    June7's Avatar
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    If table links are set with drive letter pathing then user must have the same drive letter mapped on their computer. Instead link tables with UNC (universal naming convention). This pathing uses server name and user does not need drive mapped. The Access link manager/wizard defaults to drive letter pathing. I use VBA code to change the link pathing. The code is described in http://forums.aspfree.com/microsoft-...ue-323364.html
    How to attach file: http://www.accessforums.net/showthread.php?t=70301 To provide db: copy, remove confidential data, run compact & repair, zip w/Windows Compression.

  5. #5
    danhdurso is offline Novice
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    I did use the UNC path. The issue is how to establish the link so that the user of the front end database is linking to a back end database table (via that unc path) when the back end database being linked to is in a folder to which the user does not have permissions. Does this require some VBA code to manage the Windows credentials?

  6. #6
    June7's Avatar
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    If user does not have permissions to the folder, AFAIK Access cannot manage that, VBA or otherwise. User permissions are established by the operating system. Users must have read/write permissions for folder with the backend. Talk to your IT staff.
    How to attach file: http://www.accessforums.net/showthread.php?t=70301 To provide db: copy, remove confidential data, run compact & repair, zip w/Windows Compression.

  7. #7
    danhdurso is offline Novice
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    I am not trying to manage the permissions, per se. IT will set those once they know what is required. I am just trying to enable the user at the front end to pass the needed credentials so windows will allow the front end user to access the back end database. And I will need to tell IT what permissions to set up on the server. I am guessing I am still not explaining this very well. It must be very common to want to allow an outside sales person to use an access front end while hiding from view the files and folders on the server. I am still hoping someone can shed some light on this.

  8. #8
    June7's Avatar
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    How will outside user gain access to your network - Web, VPN, TeamViewer?
    How to attach file: http://www.accessforums.net/showthread.php?t=70301 To provide db: copy, remove confidential data, run compact & repair, zip w/Windows Compression.

  9. #9
    danhdurso is offline Novice
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    How logging in

    Quote Originally Posted by June7 View Post
    How will outside user gain access to your network - Web, VPN, TeamViewer?
    Good question. Yes, the user will login via Team Viewer or LogMeIn. They will be given their own computer to log into and access to one share drive ("P") on the server as well as their local C drive. They will not have access to anything else on the server. The P drive will have the access front end. Again, this would seem to be a pretty typical set up for field people with restricted access. Thanks for your quick response.

    ---Dan D'Urso
    949-489-1472

  10. #10
    June7's Avatar
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    So user logs into the network then they open the Access frontend on the P drive? Seems to me the authentication is already accomplished with the login. IT needs to set folder permissions so that user X can read/write in the folder that has the backend. Without this permission setting user/frontend cannot interact with the backend records, at least that has been my experience.

    Preventing a knowledgeable user from setting up a drive mapping to the O drive backend folder is a question for IT.
    How to attach file: http://www.accessforums.net/showthread.php?t=70301 To provide db: copy, remove confidential data, run compact & repair, zip w/Windows Compression.

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