Linking Tables  - Help For End Users

After splitting a database into a software and backend database, setup a form that has these notes on it.  Then add a button to the main form that opens that form.  This will assist the user to find where the link table manager is.  Also if the user does not have the link table manager installed, reinstall Access with the Advanced Wizards.

Now add these notes to that form

Linked Table Manager ..... Use this procedure to view or to refresh links when the structure or location of a linked table has changed. The Linked Table Manager lists the paths to all currently linked tables.

To view or refresh links

1 Open the database that contains links to tables.
2 On the Tools menu, point to Add-ins, and then click Linked Table Manager.
3 Select the check box for the tables whose links you want to refresh.
4 Click OK to refresh the links.

Microsoft Access confirms a successful refresh or, if the table wasn't found, displays the Select New Location of <table name> dialog box in which you specify its new location.
If several selected tables have moved to the new location you specify, the Linked Table Manager searches that location for all selected tables, and updates all links in one step.

To change the path for a set of linked tables

1 Open the database that contains links to tables.
2 On the Tools menu, point to Add-ins, and then click Linked Table Manager.
3 Select the Always Prompt For A New Location check box.
4 Select the check box for the tables whose links you want to change, and then click OK.
5 In the Select New Location dialog box, specify the new location, and then click OK.

Notes

· The Linked Table Manager doesn't move database or table files. If you want to move database or table files to a new location, use the Windows Explorer, My Computer, or the MS-DOS Copy or Move commands. Once you have moved a database or table, you can use the Linked Table Manager to refresh links to its linked tables.
· The Linked Table Manager can't refresh links to Microsoft Access tables whose names were changed after they were linked. You must delete the current link, and then link such tables again.

Extra - Setup a a button on this form and insert the following code under the button to fire up the Link Table Manager.