? For anyone that transfers data base files *UPDATE*

[aphoenixrises]

I have been trying for days to download a data base file done in MS Access, but the file is read only and it will not let me change to archive once downloaded from disc. It says I must contact the system Administrator. Well the system Admin has been calling me for days trying to correct this as I do CS for a web based company. If I can not get this data base open I am out a job. Oh well I think its his fault but then again who knows.
Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Fingers]

Sorry, wish I knew, but here is a bump for the cause.

 

[medic]

Are you downloading it from the net and then trying to run it or is it on a CD now?

I'm wondering if the burn to CD was corrupted or the file after it was downloaded arrived corrupted.

If the database file is sitting on the original machine and working right now, why not drive there and run it from that location?

 

[aphoenixrises]

Medic that is an excellent Question but I think I know the answer.
God works in mysterious ways and my eyes are open, is all I will say to why not transfer live.

And It was an actual CD he fed exed to me.

I called a heavy duty PR friend of mine in Fla and she said he knew what he was doing, and that unless the file is archive, it will come up as computer language in read only mode. There is no way to change the file he must send it archive. I thought I had run across that problem before and she confirmed what I thought to be true.

Well let me tell you the data base is worth several million dollars, I knew that but why offer someone the job if you are only going to **%%$$$$ with them?

Now I know there are ways to break into anything but that is not my aim, it was to work for this person and it be lucrative for both parties. I am an honest person.

I guess the man did not have the backbone to tell me he had changed his mind but tomorrow he will hear what is on my mind. I have wasted too much time and been to frustrated over this for days. Now I will have my say.

But I want to thank you for your help and suggestions, and the bump from fingers too.

:disgust:

 

[TallBill]

um.. wut OS are you using? you should be able to change it from read only in its file properties.. unless you gotta be logged on as admin.. very possible.. i work with dbf files quite often..

 

[aphoenixrises]

Well I am on 98se and not one person can tell me at this point that he didnt know that this would happen. It says I cannot change the properties and that I must contact the system administrator as I do not have permision to open. The he gives me the dos prompt to change the read only in dos and of course,,,,
You know the one... C: attrib -r -a -h filename.ext (enter)
Now didnt I tell him this was the problem but no .....

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
THERE NOW I FEEL BETTER!!!!

 

[TallBill]

i dont think im fully following you..

 

[aphoenixrises]

Ok here is the best explanation I can give you..Hope it makes sense.
He sent the db in read only and then said once I loaded it onto my system I could change the read only to archive and open the db.
well...
It is his db and he is the admin, he has much more experience than I do at these things.. Then he says try this command in DOS and I am thinking yeah right been there done that. The dos command I put in the last post is "suppose to change the attributes of read only, well not in this case.
If the admin does not send the file as archive then it cannot be opened. Then he says" I tested it on my computer before I sent it."
Well Gee, your computer has the db on it to begin with and you created it so of course it is going to open. Try booting that puppy from someone elses computer and see what happens.
So I hope you got the gist of what is happening, but he is refusing to send in archive due to the value, but to me this is a ticket to unemployment as there is no other way that I know of.
Anyway next year I am off to med school to finish my education but this would have been nice to fall back on as it only required a few hours a day of my time.

 

[conjur]

You aren't trying to change the attribute of the file on the CD right?

You have copied the access DB to a folder on your harddrive first, right?

Sorry for the stupid question but it's late and I don't think I'm reading the explanation fully

 

[TallBill]

yeah.. make sure the file is on yer Hard Drive...

 

[networkman]

I wasn't going to ask about the copy of data from CD to HD because I figured that would be too simple to miss.

However, assuming it's not the above issue.. after talking to a friend of mine who's a general programmer for Meijer - yes, it is quite possible that your Admin "friend" did indeed create the database in a "read-only" mode for non-Administrator level users. Usually, such a database would require a password in order to access it in a "Write" mode. It really depends on how the database was setup and what program it was created with, because there are ways to "hack" such a file and get at the data. We'd really need to know some more specifics to help you out.

 

[aphoenixrises]

Yes now you are getting it. It is on the hard drive. And yes networkman he did this on purpose and now acts like I am the computer illiterate one. I dont know everything, but there is nothing I can not learn. So Although as I said in a previous post, I know there is a way to break into it. It would serve no purpose as one way or another, if this was his intention, then he will find another way to "change" his mind.
I will not consider this a loss, but do consider it a waste of my time and no good use of frustrations. Im just not sure what the purpose would be in wasting someones time driving them around in circles for.

So In an hour he gets to hear my version of " This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen one person do to another not to mention the waste of your own time as well as mine." version of my frustration. And Yes I will tell him this in my OWN words.

When a employment situation starts out this bad, one question to ponder is would it ever be better or above question or suspicion when anything goes wrong? So is it worth the trouble to even start?

My answer to this, for myself, is no it would not so therefore I will stop spinning my wheels and trying to explain a problem to someone who has created the problem intentionally.

But thank you for confirming that I was correct, was fairly sure I was. And thanks to everyone that tried to help. I do not consider giving up on this as quitting, It is knowing when to fold, and I am there. Life is to short to have it filled with frustrations and suspicions, we get enough of that from other sources.

 

[medic]

but he is refusing to send in archive due to the value

Maybe consider just for a moment that this guy ISN'T quite as computer literate as he makes out to be...maybe he honestly thinks you can just change the attributes and go with it.
He probably has never attempted to change a readonly to archive without the identifiable program or rights and possibly someone less informed told him it should work.

I would inform him that you have talked with several senior programmers/people familiar with Access and the file MUST be sent "archive". If he is concerned about the value and danger of sending it, then ask him to send it courier/insured...or to fly you out!

 

[aphoenixrises]

To update you, I called mr. Data Base Back and was told I could do whatever needed to be done to get the file operational. So I did. Inserted nasty cd got info, opened file. I am in business. I knew I could do this but did not want to without consent.
Thanks for all the help. Guess I keep this job this week anyway. LOL
And Medic you were right he is not as computer savvy as he puts out to be.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Glad to hear that you got this resolved!