The Database Engine Could not lock table "" because it is already in use by another person or object

[akanick]

Hi all. I have a split database which the front end is distributed to two other people for use.



On the front end, I have a navigation form that has buttons which open certain reports for users.

Recently I created a report called "Visitor Clearances" and tacked a button to access it from the same navigation. (all my other buttons on this page are currently working)

When any user clicks on my "Visitor Clearances" button I get the message, "The Database Engine Could not lock table "Contacts_TBL" because it is already in use by another person or object". However, no one else is using the database and I don't have this back-end table open.

It feels like the database is trying to open the back-end table before it opens the front-end report.

Has anyone experienced this before?

Thank you.

[ranman256]

yes, sometimes a user will exit, but the lock file (.ldb or .lccdb) will remain. Even in a proper exit.
and if access sees this file, it will give the message.
Delete the lock file....if it deletes , you should be fine.
if it wont delete, then someone is in it.

Sometimes, Access may be gone, but a phantom still shows in the Task manager. Delete that too.

[akanick]

Hi. Thank you for your response.

How do I delete the lock file? Where is it located?

Much appreciation!

[aytee111]

The lock file is in the same folder as the database and has the extension ".accdbl"

[akanick]

OK there is no file like this in my folder....hmmmm

[isladogs]

Typo by aytee.
The extension is .laccdb

[akanick]

Hi.

There are only two files in this folder. It is the front-end and the back-end of the database. I store them both there because it is the only place that we all three have access to. There are no other files there. Could the .laccdb file be in another place?

[aytee111]

Maybe it is something that is occurring under the button - what is different from the others on your form?

[isladogs]

The lock file is ALWAYS in the same folder as the accdb file.
When you have a split database running, both the FE & BE will each create an LACCDB lock file.

Open Task Manager when the database isn't in use - no lock file(s)
Look for any instances of Access running - if there are any, end the Access task(s)

This sounds worrying

It is the front-end and the back-end of the database. I store them both there because it is the only place that we all three have access to.

That suggests that all three of you could open the SAME copy of the FE.
If so disaster WILL happen at some point as the FE WILL get corrupted - not MAY happen but WILL happen
Each user should ALWAYS have their OWN copy of the FE stored in separate locations but linked to the SAME BE on the network

[akanick]

All of the other buttons operate under macros which open the reports. There was no difference in the way that they were created, for I used the button feature for each...It's such a mystery.

[akanick]

So a weird thing I just discovered is that if I click directly on the report to open it (NOT through the button I created on the navigation form) the report still doesn't open. It still indicates that it can't open the table that is in the backend.

[aytee111]

What is the record source for the report - if a table, does it open thru the nav pane? If a query, does it run by itself?

[akanick]

The other users are not aware that we share a folder. They each have their own copy distributed to their desktops.

I tried the task manager thing, and access was not running!

[akanick]

Hi.


the report's record source is a query.