Chapter 10. Multiuser Applications
Access offers native support, right out of the box, for multiuser applications. But this
additional power brings with it some additional problems, chiefly
those of coordinating multiple users who may be spread across a large
network. This chapter explores some solutions to common problems in
multiuser applications. You'll learn how to use a
shared database table to help your users communicate with one another
and see how to find out which users are logged in at any given time.
You'll also learn how to implement basic transaction
logging, how to determine who has a record locked, and how to prevent
a user from locking a record for an excessive time period. Because
multiuser applications often use Access security, we also explore the
security system in detail. For instance, you'll
learn how to properly secure your database, how to keep track of your
users and groups, and how to check if they have blank passwords.
You'll also see how you can maintain separate but
synchronized copies of a database using Access replication.