I'm using Access 2003. I have a time/billing database that I would like place on a shared drive for several people to update throughout the day. There are 7 users. When I place it on the shared drive and open it from one computer, and then try to open it from another computer, it's locked. How do I modify it to be updated by several users at the same time? This is the database I'm using: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/t... Thanks!

Have you checked: Tools Options Advanced Default Open Mode? It should be set to Shared and Record Level locks checked as well. This may help as well: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a... Life's more painless for the brainless.

That didn't work, it was already set to shared. I also tried checking and unchecking the "open databases using record level lock" and it didn't seem to make a difference. I have Default Record Locking set to Edited. Once I open the database from the shared drive, another document appears called "timeandbillingdatabase.ldb." It shows the Access icon with a little lock over it. When I roll over this file, the caption is "Microsoft Office Access Record-Locking Information." Any other suggestions?

For multiple users to update the same file the program must support concurrent operation. Only 1 record can be opened for writing at any given time. Multiple users can only open the same record read only. I don't think Access has the ability to do what you want. I think you need a true client server database or a different program to access your database.

We have an Access 2003 database on a Novell shared drive. We also have record lock issues. Our work around. We created a short cut to the database. User are encouraged to only use the short cut. This works for us, sorry I don't know why, Eduardo