Security.mdw File

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Laura - 25 Apr 2007 18:34 GMT

I was trying to learn about the security wizard on a test database and seem
to have completely messed up my security settings. After going through the
wizard, when I exited Acces & re-entered to open any of my databases (none
had security setup previously), I got a little popup asking for id &
password. I could not get around it so, I went through the notes & think I
joined to the original security.mdw file. The id/password problem seems to
be gone but when I search my computer for all security.mdw files there is
only one in the directory of my test database. Shouldn't there be one
somewhere in my "office" or "common files" directory? Help as I just want to
get back to where I was before tinkering with the security settings.......
Thanks

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Joan Wild - 25 Apr 2007 20:41 GMT

Do the search again, but search for *.mdw The standard mdw that ships with Access is called system.mdw. You have to include system and hidden folders in the search.

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Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP

>I was trying to learn about the security wizard on a test database and seem
> to have completely messed up my security settings. After going through the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> get back to where I was before tinkering with the security settings.......
> Thanks

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Laura - 25 Apr 2007 22:12 GMT

Using the *.mdw search I found a couple of mdw files on my computer:

1. C:\Documents and Settings\Laura\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access\System1.mdw
2. C:\Documents and Settings\Laura\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access\system.mdw
3. C:\nlada\database\securitytest\security.mdw

I think the first one is one I accidentally created earlier while trying out
the security Workgroup Administrator "join" function. The third one is
related to the test database I was testing security settings on. So, if the
second one is the standard Access one, how can I be sure that my Access is
automatically using this instead of any other mdw file? Is it ok to just
delete the first & third ones?

> Do the search again, but search for *.mdw The standard mdw that ships with Access is called system.mdw. You have to include system and hidden folders in the search.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> > get back to where I was before tinkering with the security settings.......
> > Thanks

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Joan Wild - 25 Apr 2007 22:54 GMT

> . So, if the
> second one is the standard Access one, how can I be sure that my Access is
> automatically using this instead of any other mdw file? Is it ok to just
> delete the first & third ones?

I don't think you want to delete the third one, as it is your secure mdw - without it you won't be able to get into your secure mdb.

You can verify the default mdw by using Tools, Workgroup Administrator - that will tell you the path to the mdw set as the default. This is the mdw that will be used for every session of Access *unless* you override that. You can override that by using a desktop shortcut (the security wizard would create one for you); its target takes the form of
"path to msaccess.exe" "path to mdb" /wrkgrp "path to secure mdw"

Using this to launch Access/mdb file will not use your default mdw, but instead the mdw specified after the /wrkgrp switch.

Signature

Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP

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