Using Security Features in Access

Restricting User Access with Startup Options

In an environment where strict security is not required, you can use Startup options to restrict access to default menus and toolbars, the Database window, and special keys. To perform the following procedure, the application must have a Startup form and a custom menu bar that contains only the commands you want to make available to users.

You can use this method to secure both MDB and ADP files. You can also use Startup options with other forms of security.

To restrict user access with Startup options

1. On the Tools menu, click Startup.
2. To display the rest of the dialog box, click Advanced.
3. In the Display Form box, click the name of your Startup form.
4. In the Menu Bar box, click the name of your menu bar.
5. Clear the following check boxes: Allow Full Menus, Allow Default Shortcut Menus, Display Database Window, Allow Built-in Toolbars, Allow Toolbar/Menu Changes, and Use Access Special Keys.

After you have selected the Startup options you want, you must set the AllowBypassKey property to False in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This step prevents users from using the SHIFT key to bypass the settings in the Startup dialog box. You can also set the Startup options and properties used in this procedure by using VBA.

Note   A user familiar with Visual Basic for Applications can bypass this method of security by setting the AllowBypassKey property back to True. If you want a higher level of security, establish user-level security in addition to setting Startup options.

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See also

For information about creating a Startup form or custom menu bar, see Microsoft Access 2000 online Help.

You can set many other Startup options and properties by using Visual Basic for Applications. For information about how to set VBA properties for Access, see Microsoft Access Visual Basic Reference Help.

The highest level of security for an Access database is user-level security, which you can use with or in place of Startup options that restrict user access. For more information, see Setting User-Level Security.