Microsoft Access stops responding when you edit a record that is being edited by another user (824173)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Access 2003
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Access 2000

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

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

SYMPTOMS

When you try to edit a record in Microsoft Office Access that is being edited by another user, the record may not be shown as locked. Also, Access may stop responding for a significant period of time during the attempt to edit a record that is modified by a user but is not yet saved in the database.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When you edit a record in the database by using Access while the record is being edited by another user, all the records that are related to the record are shown as locked. The locked record indicator appears at the record selector of the record, and you may not edit the records.

However, if the record does not have any child or related records, the locked record indicator does not display.

Caution If you follow the steps in this example, you modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and follow these steps on a copy of the database.

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

  1. Start Microsoft Office Access.
  2. Open the Northwind sample database.
  3. Delete all rows that correspond to OrderID 10692 from the [Order Details] table. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. In the Database window, click Queries under Objects.
    2. In the right pane, double-click Create query in Design view.
    3. In the Show Table dialog box, click Close.
    4. On the View menu, click SQL View.
    5. In the SQL View page, paste the following SQL statement:
      DELETE * FROM [Order Details] where OrderID=10692
    6. On the Query menu, click Run.
    7. Click Yes.
    8. On the File menu, click Close.
    9. Click No when you are prompted to save the query.
  4. Create a query that is named qrytest to show the order details of the customer with customerID ALFKI. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. In the Database window, click Queries under Objects.
    2. In the right pane, double-click Create query in Design view.
    3. In the Show Table dialog box, click Close.
    4. On the View menu, click SQL View.
    5. Paste the following SQL statement:
      SELECT 
      	Orders.OrderID, 
      	Orders.CustomerID, 
      	Orders.OrderDate, 
      	[Order Details].OrderID
      FROM 
      	Orders LEFT JOIN [Order Details] 
      		ON Orders.OrderID = [Order Details].OrderID
      WHERE 
      	(((Orders.CustomerID)='ALFKI'));
      
    6. On the View menu, click Properties.
    7. In the Query Properties window, set the Record Locks property to Edited Record.
    8. Close the Query Properties window.
    9. On the File menu, click Save.
    10. In the Save As dialog box, type Qrytest, and then click OK.
    11. On the File menu, click Close.
  5. In the Database window, double-click Qrytest.
  6. Modify the Order Date field for the record with OrderID 10692.
  7. Start another instance of the Northwind database.
  8. In the database window, click Queries under Objects.
  9. Double-click Qrytest.
  10. Try to modify the Order Date field for the record with Order ID=10692.

    Notice that as soon as you type any characters in the record, Access stops responding for a while. The duration of this behavior depends on the number of characters that are typed. However, you cannot modify the record.

REFERENCES

For more information about sharing an Access database in a multi-user environment, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type About sharing an Access database on a network in the Search for box in the Assistance pane, and then click Start searching to view the topic.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/9/2004
Keywords:kbstoprespond kbdisplay kbQuery kbUser kbprb KB824173 kbAudDeveloper