ACC2000: "You Do Not Have Exclusive Access to the Database" Error on Novell Networks (297030)

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

SYMPTOMS

When you try to modify the design of objects in an Access 2000 database, you receive the following error message:

You do not have exclusive access to the database at this time. If you proceed to make changes, you may not be able to save them later.

This happens even if you are the only user in the database.

CAUSE

This issue occurs on Novell Networks using the Novell Client 3.2 or 3.21. The client does not allow Access to set an exclusive lock on the database.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Modify the client computers to use an updated copy of the Novell Client.

Method 2

Modify the client computers to use the Microsoft Client for Netware Networks.

Method 3

Open the database exclusively. To do so, follow these steps:

On the File menu, click Open.
Select your database.
Click the arrow to the right of the Open button, and then click Open Exclusive.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

Place the sample database Northwind.mdb in a shared folder on a server.
From a different client computer, verify that the Novell 3.2 or 3.21 client is installed.
On the client computer, open Northwind.mdb from the share on the server, and then try to modify the design of the Customers table.

Note that you receive the error that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.