ACC97: How to Create Your Own Custom Security Reports

ID: Q179703


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Access 97


SUMMARY

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

The Database Documenter does not enable you to view a report on a per user basis or to have a report that is grouped by users and groups display the permissions for the objects in your database. However, you can create your own custom reports that display security information. You can do this by using Data Access Objects (DAO) to read and store the permission information.

This article shows you how to store user permissions to objects by using Visual Basic for Applications.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/
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http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp


MORE INFORMATION

To create your own custom security reports, you must first create the tables, and then create the query that will be used as the record source for the report.

Creating the Tables

To create the tables, follow these steps:
  1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.


  2. Create a module and type the following line in the Declarations section if it is not already there:


  3. 
    Option Explicit 
  4. Type the following Functions:


  5. 
          Global Const SUCCESS_SUCCESS = 0
          Const PermOpenRun = 1
          Const PermReadDes = 2
          Const PermReadData = 3
          Const PermModDes = 4
          Const PermAdmin = 5
          Const PermModData = 6
          Const PermDeleteData = 7
          Const PermInsertData = 8
    
          ' ****************************************
          ' FUNCTION: UtilSecTbls()
          '
          ' Returns: True if the function completes successfully of false
          ' if it does Not.
          ' ****************************************
          Function UtilSecTbls() As Boolean
             On Error GoTo Err_UtilSecTbls
             Dim Mydb As Database, DBObjs As Recordset, StrUsrName As String
             Dim strClass As String, GrpRs As Recordset, SecRs As Recordset
             Dim UsrRecs As Recordset, lngAdmin, lngExecute, lngReadDef, _
               lngWritedef, lngReadData, lngUpdateData, lngDeleteData, _
               lngInsertData As Long
    
             ' Try to create the tables; if no error, continue.
             If CreateTbls() Then
                ' Set the database object and open the recordsets.
                Set Mydb = CurrentDb()
                Set SecRs = Mydb.OpenRecordset("UTL_UsrPermTable")
                Set UsrRecs = Mydb.OpenRecordset("UTL_UsrTable")
                Set DBObjs = Mydb.OpenRecordset("UTL_DBobjstable")
    
                lngAdmin = dbSecFullAccess
                ' Loop through the tables of Users and groups.
                Do While Not UsrRecs.EOF
                DBObjs.MoveFirst
                ' Store the group name or user name.
                StrUsrName = UsrRecs!AccountId
                ' Now loop through the table of objects so that you can get
                ' the permissions to the objects for each user or group.
                Do While Not DBObjs.EOF
                ' Set variables initially to 9999 so you can use them only
                ' when a user or group might have that permission.
                lngExecute = 9999
                lngReadDef = 9999
                lngWritedef = 9999
                lngReadData = 999
                lngUpdateData = 9999
                lngDeleteData = 9999
                lngInsertData = 9999
    
                ' Check to see what kind of an object you are using and set
                ' the variables to the appropriate security setting.
                Select Case DBObjs!DocType
    
                  Case "Forms", "Reports"
                      If DBObjs!DocType = "Forms" Then
                          strClass = "Forms"
                      Else
                          strClass = "Reports"
                      End If
                    lngExecute = acSecFrmRptExecute
                    lngReadDef = acSecFrmRptReadDef
                    lngWritedef = acSecFrmRptWriteDef
    
                  Case "Tables", "Queries"
                    strClass = "Tables"
                    lngReadDef = dbSecReadDef
                    lngWritedef = dbSecWriteDef
                    lngReadData = dbSecRetrieveData
                    lngUpdateData = dbSecReplaceData
                    lngDeleteData = dbSecInsertData
                    lngInsertData = dbSecInsertData
    
                  Case "Modules"
                    strClass = "Modules"
                    lngReadDef = acSecModReadDef
                    lngWritedef = acSecModWriteDef
    
                  Case "Macros"
                    strClass = "Scripts"
                    lngReadDef = acSecMacReadDef
                    lngWritedef = acSecMacWriteDef
                    lngExecute = acSecMacExecute
    
                End Select
    
           ' If you need to check for Open-Run permissions for the object
             If lngExecute <> 9999 Then
           ' Call the GetPermissions function to check the permission.
           ' If it returns true, then add a record in the Usr Permissions table
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
               And lngExecute) = lngExecute Then
                   SecRs.AddNew
                   SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                   SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                   SecRs!PermissionsId = PermOpenRun
                   SecRs.Update
              End If
            End If
           ' Check to see if you have Read Design permissions.
           If lngReadDef <> 9999 Then
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
               And dbSecFullAccess) = dbSecFullAccess Then
                  SecRs.AddNew
                  SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                  SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                  SecRs!PermissionsId = PermReadDes
                  SecRs.Update
              End If
            End If
    
            ' Check to see if you have Administer permissions to the object.
            If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                And dbSecFullAccess) = dbSecFullAccess Then
                   SecRs.AddNew
                   SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                   SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                   SecRs!PermissionsId = PermAdmin
                   SecRs.Update
            End If
    
            ' Check to see if you have Modify Design permissions.
            If lngWritedef <> 9999 Then
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                  And lngWritedef) = lngWritedef Then
                     SecRs.AddNew
                     SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                     SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                     SecRs!PermissionsId = PermModDes
                     SecRs.Update
              End If
           End If
    
           ' Check to see if you have Read Data permissions.
           If lngReadData <> 9999 Then
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                   And lngReadData) = lngReadData Then
                      SecRs.AddNew
                      SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                      SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                      SecRs!PermissionsId = PermReadData
                      SecRs.Update
             End If
           End If
    
           ' Check to see if you have insert permissions.
           If lngInsertData <> 9999 Then
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                  And lngInsertData) = lngInsertData Then
                     SecRs.AddNew
                     SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                     SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                     SecRs!PermissionsId = PermInsertData
                     SecRs.Update
              End If
           End If
    
           ' Check to see if you have Update Data permissions.
           If lngUpdateData <> 9999 Then
             If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                  And lngUpdateData) = lngUpdateData Then
                     SecRs.AddNew
                     SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                     SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                     SecRs!PermissionsId = PermModData
                     SecRs.Update
                End If
              End If
    
             ' Check to see if you have Delete Data permissions.
             If lngDeleteData <> 9999 Then
              If (GetPermissions(UsrRecs!AccountId, strClass, DBObjs!Docname) _
                  And lngDeleteData) = lngDeleteData Then
                     SecRs.AddNew
                     SecRs!docId = DBObjs!docId
                     SecRs!AccountId = StrUsrName
                     SecRs!PermissionsId = PermDeleteData
                     SecRs.Update
                 End If
               End If
               DBObjs.MoveNext
               Loop
                UsrRecs.MoveNext
               Loop
               DBObjs.Close
               UsrRecs.Close
               SecRs.Close
               Mydb.Close
               UtilSecTbls = True
             Else
               MsgBox "Tables were not successfully created."
               UtilSecTbls = False
             End If
    
          Bye_UtilSecTbls:
             Exit Function
    
          Err_UtilSecTbls:
             ' If an error occurs, display the message and terminate the
             ' .. function, returning the error number.
             MsgBox Err & " " & Error$
             UtilSecTbls = False
             Resume Bye_UtilSecTbls
    
          End Function
    
          ' ****************************************
          ' FUNCTION: CreateTbls()
          '
          ' Inputs:  UserGrpName - name of a user or group account
          '          ObjClass    - name of an object container
          '          ObjName     - name of an object document
          '
          ' Returns: True if the function completes successfully and false if
          ' it does not. It will also display an error message if it does not
          ' complete.
          ' ****************************************
    
          Function CreateTbls() As Boolean
             On Error GoTo Err_Createtbls
             Dim Secdb As Database, myWs As Workspace, grp As Group
             Dim Usr As User, Lngdocid As Long
             Dim SecTd As TableDef, secqd As QueryDef, mydoc As Document
             Dim DocRs As Recordset, UsrRs As Recordset
    
             ' Set the Workgroup and database objects.
             Set myWs = DBEngine.Workspaces(0)
             Set Secdb = CurrentDb
    
             ' Check to see if the Table of users and groups exist. If it
             ' does not exist create the table. If it does, delete the records
             ' from the table.
    
             If IsTableQuery("", "UTL_USRTable") Then
                Secdb.Execute "Delete * from UTL_USRTable;"
             Else
                Secdb.Execute "CREATE TABLE UTL_USRTable (AccountID " & _ 
                    "Text(20) CONSTRAINT AccountIDPK PRIMARY KEY, Type " & _ 
                    "TEXT(10));"
             End If
    
             Set UsrRs = Secdb.OpenRecordset("UTL_UsrTable")
             myWs.Groups.Refresh
             For Each grp In myWs.Groups
                UsrRs.AddNew
                UsrRs!AccountId = grp.Name
                UsrRs!Type = "Group"
                UsrRs.Update
             Next grp
             myWs.Users.Refresh
    
             For Each Usr In myWs.Users
                If Usr.Name <> "Creator" And Usr.Name <> "Engine" Then
                   UsrRs.AddNew
                   UsrRs!AccountId = Usr.Name
                   UsrRs!Type = "User"
                   UsrRs.Update
                End If
             Next Usr
             UsrRs.Close
    
             ' Check to see if the Table of Permissions exists.
             ' If it does not exist create the table and fill in the records.
             If Not IsTableQuery("", "UTL_PermTable") Then
               Secdb.Execute "CREATE TABLE UTL_PermTable (PermissionsID " & _
                   "Long CONSTRAINT PermIDPK PRIMARY KEY, PermissionsDesc "& _
                   "TEXT(20));"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (1,'OpenRun')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (2,'Read Design')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (3,'Read Data')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (4,'Modify Design')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (5,'Admininster')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                   "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (6,'Update Data')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                  "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (7,'Delete Data')"
               Secdb.Execute "Insert into UTL_PermTable " & _
                  "(PermissionsID,PermissionsDesc) Values (8,'Insert Data')"
             End If
    
          ' Check to see if the Table of database objects exists.
          ' If it does not exist, create the table. If it does, then delete the
          ' records from the table.
          If IsTableQuery("", "UTL_dbObjstable") Then
            Secdb.Execute "Delete * from UTL_DbobjsTable;"
          Else
           Secdb.Execute "CREATE TABLE UTL_DbObjsTable (DocID Long " & _
              "CONSTRAINT DocIDPK PRIMARY KEY, Docname TEXT(64), " & _
              "docType Text(10));"
          End If
    
          ' Fill in the data for the table by going through the TableDefs,
          ' QueryDefs, and documents collections.
            Set DocRs = Secdb.OpenRecordset("UTL_DBobjstable")
            Lngdocid = 1
    
            For Each SecTd In Secdb.TableDefs
    
           ' Filter out Temp objects and System objects and loop through the
           ' TableDefs and QueryDefs collection.
          If Left(SecTd.Name, 4) <> "Msys" And Left(SecTd.Name, 1) <> "~" Then
              DocRs.AddNew
              DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
              DocRs!Docname = SecTd.Name
              DocRs!DocType = "Tables"
              DocRs.Update
              Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
          End If
          Next SecTd
          For Each secqd In Secdb.QueryDefs
              If Left(secqd.Name, 1) <> "~" Then
                 DocRs.AddNew
                 DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
                 DocRs!Docname = secqd.Name
                 DocRs!DocType = "Queries"
                 DocRs.Update
                 Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
              End If
          Next secqd
    
          ' Loop through the Forms Document Collection.
          For Each mydoc In Secdb.Containers!Forms.Documents
              DocRs.AddNew
              DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
              DocRs!Docname = mydoc.Name
              DocRs!DocType = "Forms"
              DocRs.Update
              Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
          Next mydoc
    
          ' Loop through the Reports Document Collection.
          For Each mydoc In Secdb.Containers!Reports.Documents
             DocRs.AddNew
             DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
             DocRs!Docname = mydoc.Name
             DocRs!DocType = "Reports"
             DocRs.Update
             Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
          Next mydoc
    
          ' Loop through the Macros Document Collection.
          For Each mydoc In Secdb.Containers!Scripts.Documents
             DocRs.AddNew
             DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
             DocRs!Docname = mydoc.Name
             DocRs!DocType = "Macros"
             DocRs.Update
             Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
          Next mydoc
    
          ' Loop through the Modules Document Collection.
          For Each mydoc In Secdb.Containers!Modules.Documents
             DocRs.AddNew
             DocRs!docId = Lngdocid
             DocRs!Docname = mydoc.Name
             DocRs!DocType = "Modules"
             DocRs.Update
             Lngdocid = Lngdocid + 1
          Next mydoc
          DocRs.Close
    
          ' Check to see if the Table of users permissions exists. If it does
          ' not exist, create the table. If it does, then delete the records
          ' from the table.
    
          If IsTableQuery("", "UTL_UsrPermtable") Then
             Secdb.Execute "Delete * From UTL_UsrPermTable"
          Else
            Secdb.Execute "CREATE TABLE UTL_UsrPermTable (AccountID " & _
               "Text(20), docId Long,PermissionsId Long);"
          End If
    
          Secdb.Close
          CreateTbls = True
    
          Bye_CreateTbls:
          Exit Function
    
          Err_Createtbls:
          ' If an error occurs, display the message and terminate the
          ' .. function, returning the error number.
          MsgBox Err & " " & Error$
          CreateTbls = False
          Resume Bye_CreateTbls
          End Function
    
          ' ****************************************
          ' FUNCTION: GetPermissions()
          '
          ' Inputs:  UserGrpName - name of a user or group account
          '          ObjClass    - name of an object container
          '          ObjName     - name of an object document
          '
          ' Returns: Value of Permissions property or error number
          '          that was generated.
          ' ****************************************
          Function GetPermissions&(UserGrpName$, ObjClass$, ObjName$)
    
          On Error GoTo Err_GetPermissions
    
          ' Set DB to the current database, and set the DOC variable
          ' .. to the object specified in the arguments.
          Dim Db As Database, DOC As Document
          Set Db = DBEngine.Workspaces(0).Databases(0)
          Set DOC = Db.Containers(ObjClass).Documents(ObjName)
    
          ' Set the UserName property of the document to the
          ' .. user or group you want to obtain the permissions for.
          DOC.UserName = UserGrpName
    
          ' Get the permissions value.
          GetPermissions = DOC.Permissions
    
          Bye_GetPermissions:
          Exit Function
    
          Err_GetPermissions:
          ' If an error occurs, display the message and terminate the
          ' .. function, returning the error number.
          MsgBox Err & " " & Error$
          GetPermissions = Err
          Resume Bye_GetPermissions
          End Function
    
          '********************************************************
          ' FUNCTION: IsTableQuery()
          '
          ' PURPOSE: Determine if a table or query exists.
          '
          ' ARGUMENTS:
          '   DbName: The name of the database. If the database name
          '           is "" the current database is used.
          '    TName: The name of a table or query.
          '
          ' RETURNS: True (it exists) or False (it does not exist).
          '
          '********************************************************
          Function IsTableQuery(DbName As String, TName As String) As Integer
          Dim Db As Database, Found As Integer, Test As String
          Const NAME_NOT_IN_COLLECTION = 3265
    
          ' Assume the table or query does not exist.
          Found = False
    
          ' Trap for any errors.
          On Error Resume Next
    
          ' If the database name is empty...
              If Trim$(DbName) = "" Then
                 ' Set Db to the current Db.
                 Set Db = CurrentDb()
             Else
              ' Otherwise, set Db to the specified open database.
                Set Db = DBEngine.Workspaces(0).OpenDatabase(DbName)
    
               ' See if an error occurred.
               If Err Then
                  MsgBox "Could not find database to open: " & DbName
                  IsTableQuery = False
                  Exit Function
               End If
            End If
    
          ' See if the name is in the Tables collection.
          Test = Db.TableDefs(TName).Name
             If Err <> NAME_NOT_IN_COLLECTION Then Found = True
    
          ' Reset the error variable.
             Err = 0
    
          ' See if the name is in the Queries collection.
          Test = Db.QueryDefs(TName$).Name
            If Err <> NAME_NOT_IN_COLLECTION Then Found = True
    
              Db.Close
              IsTableQuery = Found
    
          End Function 
  6. To test these functions, type the following line in the Debug window, and then press ENTER:
    
    ? UtilSecTbls() 
    Note that a TRUE is returned and that the following tables are created:


  7. UTL_DbObjsTable (This contains the objects of the database with a primary key on a field called DodID, which is a Long Integer field, DocName, which holds the table, query, form, report, macro or module name, and DocType, which is used to identify it as a table, query, form, report, macro or module)

    UTL_PermTable (This contains a table with all of the possible permissions a user can have on an object with a field called PermissionsID as the primary key, which is a Long Integer field and PermissionsDesc, which is a text field and stores either OpenRun, Read Data, Modify Data, and so on.)

    UTL_USRTable (This table contains all of the user and group accounts for the Workgroup with a field called AccountId as the primary key, which holds the user or group name and Type, which is set to User or Group)

    UTL_UsrPermTable (This is a table used to link the other tables together and contains all of the permissions for each user and group to a specific object. This table contains AccountID, DocID, and PermissionsID).
  8. Close the Debug window.


Creating the Query That Joins the Tables

To create a new query that joins all of the tables, you should link the UTL_DbObjsTable to the UTL_UsrPermTable based on the DocId field, the UTL_USRTable to the UTL_UsrPermTable based on the AccountID field, and the UTL_PermTable to the UTL_UsrPermTable based on the PermissionsId field.

You can now design your reports to group by user name, group name, object type, permissions, and any combination of the above.


REFERENCES

For more information about using DAO to create group and user accounts, about how to assign users to group accounts, and about how to assign or view permissions, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q124240 ACC2: Only Admins Group Members Can List Groups They Belong To
Q112063 ACC: How to Add a User to a Group with CreateUser Method
Q112106 ACC: How to Use DAO to Assign or View Permissions
For more information about how to use see if a table or query already exists, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q113549 ACC: How to Determine If a Table or Query Exists

Additional query words: 8.00 inf

Keywords : PgmHowto
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto kbinfo


Last Reviewed: July 6, 1999
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