different mdw files for different databases

[AccessMan]

I maintain several databases that are used by differing users, and I
wouldlike to direct each individual database to its own .mdw file for
security. When I open any one of the databases and try to associate that
database with a new .mdw file by clicking on Tools/Security/Workgroup
Administrator/Join to join a new workgroup, all of my databases end up
getting associated with the new .mdw file, not just the database that was
open. How can associate different databases with different .mdw files?

Thanks!

[Rick Brandt]

You can't. There is not a link between an MDW and an MDB. However; there
is (usually) an indirect relationship in that for most MDBs there is exactly
one MDW file that would allow a user to open that MDB. But...the MDB has no
idea what MDW file that is and the MDW file has no idea what MDBs you might
attempt to open while it is in use.

The MDW simply establishes (in the session) who the user account is and what
group(s) he is a member of. Separately, the MDB contains data concerning
what accounts and groups have permissions to its database and other objects.
When the credentials for the current session have appropriate permissions
the file will open, otherwise not.

To do what you want you can create shortcuts to the Access executable that
includes command line parameters specifying which MDB to open and which MDW
file to use. That allows for the use of a specific MDW file without making
it your default MDW. The target of such a shortcut would be constructed
like...

"Path to MSAccess.exe" /wrkgrp "Path to MDW" "Path to MDB"

--
Rick Brandt, Microsoft Access MVP
Email (as appropriate) to...
RBrandt at Hunter dot com