ACC2000: Logon Dialog Box Appears When Using Wizard or Add-in in ADP

ID: Q198895

The information in this article applies to:
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).


SYMPTOMS

If you have used Microsoft Jet database engine security to assign a password to the Admin account, and you then try using a wizard or an add-in in a Microsoft Access project (ADP) file, Microsoft Access may prompt you with a logon dialog box. After you enter the appropriate password, you are not prompted again during that session.


CAUSE

The wizards in Microsoft Access rely on the Microsoft Jet database engine, which is loaded on demand when you run a wizard or add-in. The Microsoft Jet database engine does not load by default when you open Microsoft Access 2000, unless you open a Microsoft Access database (MDB). This allows for better performance and uses less memory when you are working only with Access project (ADP) files. Consequently, if Microsoft Jet has a password assigned to the Admin user account, and you are working in an Access project, you receive the logon prompt when the Microsoft Jet database engine is loaded.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: The following workaround creates a shortcut that bypasses built-in Microsoft Access security by automatically logging you in as Admin. Remember that anyone using this shortcut can open your Microsoft Access databases as Admin.

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the Windows desktop, point to New on the menu that appears, and then click Shortcut.


  2. In the Create Shortcut wizard, type the path to MSAccess.exe. The default location is the following:


    3. c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSAccess.exe
  3. At the end of the path to MSAccess.exe, type the /User and /Pwd switches with Admin as the user and whatever password you use for the Admin.

    For example, if Admin has the password "x" and Microsoft Access is installed in its default location, you would type the following in the Create Shortcut wizard:


    4. 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSAccess.exe /User Admin /Pwd x'
  4. Click Next.


  5. On the Shortcut Name screen, type Access as Admin and click Finish.


You now have a shortcut that takes you to Microsoft Access and automatically logs you on as Admin. Now, if you run a wizard or add-in during that session, you are not prompted to log on.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Start Microsoft Access.


  2. Close the Startup dialog box.


  3. On the Tools menu, click Security, and then click User and Group Accounts.


  4. Set the Admin password to x.


  5. Close Microsoft Access and then open it again.


  6. Create a new Access project (ADP) and log in as Admin with the password x.


  7. In the Database window, click Pages under Objects, and then double-click Create data access page by using wizard.

    Note that you are prompted for a login ID and password.


  8. Enter Admin in the ID field and x as the password.


  9. Click OK.


Note that the Create Datapage wizard proceeds normally.

Additional query words: pra 


Keywords          : kbdta AccessCS 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999