Share a previous-version secured database across several versions of Microsoft Access

With one exception, the issues involved when sharing a secured database across more than one version of Microsoft Access are the same as the issues for sharing an unsecured database across more than one version. For more information on the general issues of sharing a database across more than one version of Microsoft Access, click .

The one exception concerns how to handle the workgroup information files that is used with the secured database. You have two choices:

• Tell users who will be upgrading to Microsoft Access 2000 to join the appropriate workgroup information file with the oldest version of Microsoft Access that will be sharing the secured database. Microsoft Access 2000 can use workgroup information files that have been created with previous versions, but previous versions can only use workgroup information files that have been created with Microsoft Access 2000 or a previous version. For more information on joining a workgroup information file, click .

  Important   If users will be sharing a secured database from Microsoft Access 95 or 97, you should compact the current workgroup information file with Microsoft Access 2000 before using it. Compacting the file by using Microsoft Access 2000 does not change the file format, so the file can continue to be used by any Microsoft Access 95 or 97 users who are not upgrading. For more information on compacting a database, click .

• If the shared database is Microsoft Access version 2.0, convert the workgroup information file that will be used with the secured database, and then tell only users who are upgrading to Microsoft Access 2000 to join the converted workgroup information file. All users who are not upgrading from version 2.0, must continue to use the workgroup information file produced with that version. For more information on converting a workgroup information file, click .