MS Access: Number of active users

~J~ · 10 Apr 2006 at 13:05

Quick question.

If I have a very basic MS Access database on a network share, is there a limit on how many users can access the database at once, or in the least, a number of active users where the database could potentially become unreliable?

happytechie · 10 Apr 2006 at 15:18

~J~ said:
Quick question.

If I have a very basic MS Access database on a network share, is there a limit on how many users can access the database at once, or in the least, a number of active users where the database could potentially become unreliable?

if more than two users attempt to open the mdb file at the same time you'll get VERY odd behaviour. the best way to do it is to export the database as a mde file and only allow read access [sic]

are you using the access database to hold the data or is it just a front end to a decent backend storage engine?

HT

~J~ · 10 Apr 2006 at 15:24

TBH, it's actually a bit of 'fact' for a client of mine. They've got an Access database on a server which is been accessed by about 100 people on a factory floor ( :eek:

), and I've been trying to find a reliable website that would either confirm or hint towards the fact that this is, er, a bit dangerous to say the least.

I'm sure I read years ago that MS-Access 97 could only have about 10 users accessing the data at once before record-locks or 'maximum number of user' errors started to occur, but they're using Access 2003 which doesn't seem to have a maximum user issue as such, but technically isn't wise to do.

sfx · 10 Apr 2006 at 16:29

100 people at once my arse...

There is a 15-20 connection limit on access... Any more than that and it will be moaning at you.

sfx

~J~ · 10 Apr 2006 at 16:49

sfx said:
100 people at once my arse...

There is a 15-20 connection limit on access... Any more than that and it will be moaning at you.

sfx

Well I can't tell that "my arse" can I?

Any ideas where I can find out this, I've been checking a few sites and can't seem to see the magi 15-20 figure.

sfx · 10 Apr 2006 at 18:54

I tell lies apparently!

You can have 255 concurrent users! :eek:

http://www.databasedev.co.uk/access_specifications.html

Goksly · 10 Apr 2006 at 21:12

also, if the program that is interacting with the database is any good, within a few seconds the connection is opened, data modification etc made and closed again... so even though 100 people are interacting with the database, only 2 or 3 are ever connected to the db at exactly the same time.