Access Hacks

Hack #8. Protect Valuable Information

Protect your data using the read-only command-line switch so that users can't edit the data.

Creating a desktop shortcut to a database provides a behind-the-scenes benefit. Specifically, you can use command-line switches that are unseen by all but the technically curious.

In this manner, it is easy to set up a shortcut to open a database in read-only mode and, thus protect your data and design elements. To do this, add the /ro switch at the end of the target string in the desktop shortcut. Note that the full target string isn't just the path to the database; it needs to start with the path to the Access executable, followed by the database path, followed by the switch.

Using Access 2003, which by default is in the standard Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office 11directory, the full target string looks like this:

	"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE"
	"C:\Sales Summaries\Sales2005.mdb" /ro

When the desktop shortcut is clicked, the database opens in read-only mode. A confirmation message is presented at startup, shown in Figure 1-17. Data can't be added, deleted, or edited.

This is a great way to disseminate information without concern for data integrity issues. Distributing the database application in such a way that a desktop shortcut is created or updated guarantees that the database opens in just the way you intended.

Figure 1-17. A ...