Symptoms

User-level security features are not available in databases that use one of the new file formats (.accdb, .accde, .accdc, .accdr).

Cause

User-level security is not supported by the new file formats in Microsoft Office Access 2007.

Resolution

You can continue to manage user-level security in database files that use an earlier Access file format (such as an .mdb or .ade file). We recommend this only if you already have a user-level security solution in place that you want to keep using.

 Important   Permissions created by using the user-level security feature do not protect your database from users who have malicious intent, and are not intended as a security barrier. It is appropriate to use this feature to improve the usability of a database for trusted users. To help keep your data secure, allow only trusted users to access your database file or associated user-level security files by using Windows file system permissions.

 Important   Do not convert your database to one of the new file formats if you want to continue using user-level security. The following procedure works only in databases that use an earlier Access file format, such as .mdb files.

1. Open the database that has user-level security settings that you want to manage.
2. On the Database Tools tab, in the Administer group, click Users and Permissions.
3. Click one of the following commands:
   • User and Group Permissions  Use this to grant or revoke user or group permissions, or to change the owner of database objects.
   • User and Group Accounts  Use this to create or delete a user or a group, to change the password or the group membership of a user, or to change the database Logon password.
   • User-level Security Wizard  Use this to start the Security Wizard, which makes an unsecured backup copy of your database and guides you through the process of implementing user-level security features.

    Note   These commands are not available in databases that use one of the new file formats.

 Tip   To start the Workgroup Administrator tool, create a macro that has a RunCommand action. Set the Command argument to WorkgroupAdministrator. If the WorkgroupAdministrator argument is not listed, on the Design tab, in the Show/Hide group, click Show All Actions.

Other security features

For better security, consider using one or more of the following features:

• Encryption  The encryption tool in Office Access 2007 makes your data unreadable by other programs or tools, and it forces users to enter a password to use the database. The encryption tool is available only in databases that use one of the new file formats.
• Database server  You can store your data on a database server that manages user security, such as Microsoft SQL Server. Then, use Access to build queries, forms, and reports by linking to the data on the server. You can use this technique on a database saved in any Access file format.
• Windows SharePoint Services site  You can leverage user security and other Windows SharePoint Services features, such as working offline. There are a variety of implementation options, depending on which Windows SharePoint Services product you use. Some Windows SharePoint Services integration features are available only in databases that use one of the new file formats.

For more information about using these features, refer to the See Also section.

New usability features

Several new features can help you manage how users use a database. The Navigation Pane is highly customizable, and several new macro actions can help you control the way that users navigate your database. For more information, refer to the See Also section.