ACC: Error Message When Opening Second Instance of .MDB File

ID: Q93139

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

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

When you open a database exclusively and then attempt to open the same database as shared in another instance of Microsoft Access, you receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access 97:

You can't open '<path>\<Database.mdb>' for exclusive use because another user has the database open.

In Microsoft Access 7.0:
Couldn't use '<path>\<Database.mdb>'; file already in use.

In Microsoft Access version 2.0:
The Database is opened by user '<username>' on machine '<machine name>'. You can't open this database exclusively.

In Microsoft Access version 1.x, when you open a database as shared and then attempt to open the same database exclusively in another instance of Microsoft Access, you receive the error message:
Couldn't open file '<path><filename>'.

This message is not very helpful because it does not state why the file could not be opened.


RESOLUTION

Open the database as Shared in all instances of Microsoft Access or close the Exclusive instance of the database, so that Shared instances of the database can be opened.


STATUS

This behavior is by design.


REFERENCES

For more information about opening a database for shared access, search the Help Index for "opening databases," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

Additional query words: lock network multiuser 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbusage GnlMu 
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 12, 1999