Microsoft KB Archive/202171

= You receive a "File already in use" error message when you open a database on a server in Access 2000 =

Article ID: 202171

Article Last Modified on 7/28/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q202171



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

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

For a Microsoft Access 2002 version of this article, see 289681.



SYMPTOMS
When you try to open a database that is located on a server, you may receive the following error message:

Couldn't use ; file already in use.



CAUSE
If a user opens a database and doesn't have create rights for the folder in which the database is located, the Microsoft Jet database engine can't create the locking information file (*.ldb) that is necessary for multiple users to open the database. Therefore, a user who doesn't have create rights opens the database exclusively if a corresponding .ldb file does not already exist.



RESOLUTION
To prevent this behavior, you must make sure that all users who open the database have read, write, and create rights for the folder in which the database is located.

If you are using a security-enhanced Access database, you must make sure that the users who open the database also have Read permission and Write permission on the folder that contains the workgroup information (.mdw) file.



MORE INFORMATION
In order to open a database in shared mode, the Microsoft Jet database engine must be able to create a locking information file (*.ldb) in the same folder as the database itself.

For additional information about .ldb files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

208778 Introduction to .ldb files in Access 2000



For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

210178 Contents of the Readme file for Access 2000

Additional query words: couldn t use filename file already inNovell NetWare

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kb3rdparty KB202171

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