A Microsoft Access workgroup is a group of users in a multiuser environment who share data. If user-level security is defined, the members of a workgroup are recorded in user and group accounts that are stored in a Microsoft Access workgroup information file. Users' passwords are also stored in the workgroup information file. These security accounts can then be assigned permissions for databases and their tables, queries, forms, reports, and macros. The permissions themselves are stored in the secure database.
In Microsoft Access 2000, user preferences are stored in the Windows Registry in the \Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Access\Settings key. In versions prior to Microsoft Access 97, user preferences are defined in the Options dialog box are recorded in the workgroup information file.
Your default workgroup is defined by the workgroup information file that the Setup program automatically creates in the language folder. Unless you specify another workgroup information file using the Workgroup Administrator utility, Microsoft Access uses the default workgroup information file each time you start Microsoft Access. You can also use the Workgroup Administrator to create a new Microsoft Access workgroup information file.
Before you create security accounts, you should choose a Microsoft Access workgroup information file where those accounts will be stored. You can use the default workgroup information file, specify an existing file, or create a new file. If you need to make sure that your workgroup and its permissions can't be duplicated, don't use the default workgroup information file; you must make sure the workgroup information file you choose has been created with a unique workgroup ID (WID). If such a workgroup information file doesn't exist, you should create one using the Workgroup Administrator.