Access™ 2007 VBA Programmer's Reference

A.4. Converting a Secured Database

The Access 2007 ACCDB file format offers data encryption using a database password, but it does not support user-level security and using the workgroup information manager. User-level security will be removed as the file is converted to the 2007 ACCDB file format. So, if the application has complex user-level security features that you need to continue using, the database must remain as an .mdb or .mde file. In that case you're home free, at least as for this part.

As security issues have become more critical and complex, new ways have been developed to protect the data and the application while making it easier for users to work with diverse and remote sources. To learn more about Access security features and options, please read Chapter 18, which provides detailed information about creating and working with workgroup information files (WIFs). You'll also benefit from understanding macro security and trust centers, which are covered in Chapter 22.

So after considering the options, you've decided to shed the user/group security (.mdw file)and take advantage of the benefits offered by the ACCDB format. Switching to the new format removes user-level security from the file(s). Access will automatically remove the security settings so you can start clean when applying security and interface controls to the new .accdb or .accde file. Keep in mind that if user-level security were controlling the capability to enter, change, or view certain information, ...