Password-Protecting a Database

Open the File menu and choose Open to display the Open dialog box.

Using the Look in drop-down list or the Places bar, open the folder that contains the database you want to open and click the database to select it.

Click the down arrow next to the Open button and choose Open Exclusive from the list of options that appear.

INTRODUCTION

Chances are, more than one person uses your database. For this reason, you might want to assign a password to that database so that only users with the password can access it. To assign a password, you first must use a special procedure for opening the database, as outlined here.

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Other Security Features

Access provides many more security features, including features for setting up user and group permissions for editing (if several individuals use the database) and encrypting the database contents. For more information, consult Access's online help.

The database opens; you can now assign a password. To begin, open the Tools menu, choose Security , and select Set Database Password .

In the Password field, type the password you want to assign. Then, press Tab , and retype the password in the Verify field.

Click OK . Access returns you to the database window.

If you close and then try to reopen the database, Access prompts you to type the password. Type the password and click OK .

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Not Opened Exclusively ?

If you do not open the database exclusively, you'll see an error message when you attempt to apply a password. Clear the error message, close the database, and follow steps 1 “3 to open the database again.

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Dropping the Password

To get rid of the password you've assigned, open the database. Then, open the Tools menu, choose Security , and select Unset Database Password . Type the password in the dialog box that appears and click OK .