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Mimic UNC drive

Hi, I have an MS Access application that is about to be deployed on several sites.

Historically, the old Access app used drive letters/folders (N:\FolderName\back-end.accdb etc.) to store the back-end with the front-end being deployed locally. To mimic this on my test PC, I would simply create a folder on my D: drive, something like "D:\SiteName", and then map a drive letter to that folder using the "Subst" command. Whilst this is not the most elegant solution, it worked well for several years and was very flexible.

However, I now wish to use UNC paths instead of drive mappings and need a way to set these paths on my test-bed.

Any ideas?

Jim Dettman (EE MVE)

You can use UNC if you want for linking a table.

You can update by replacing the drive letter with:

\\Servername\ShareName

In the tabldefs.connect property.

Jim.

Andy Brown

ASKER

Hi Jim - thanks for that.

It's actually the Windows part and how I can tell windows that "\\Servername\ShareName" exists on my PC.

Jim Dettman (EE MVE)

You would use windows explorer to browse to a network location. You'll end up with:

\\Server name\Sharename

You can also do (but not recommended):

\\ip address\Sharename

If you use the linked table manager, just tick the check box "always ask for location" and you can then type it in directly there as well if you don't refresh in code.

Jim.

Andy Brown

ASKER

OK - that sounds good. The only problem, is that I currently don't know to map something like "D:\Test" to something like "\\TestServer\Client1"

Andy Brown

ASKER

There's something called the "Microsoft loopback adapter". I'm going to take a look at that.

Gustav Brock

The only problem, is that I currently don't know to map something like "D:\Test" to something like "\\TestServer\Client1"

That's because you can't. You can map a drive letter - like D: - that's it.

/gustav

Jim Dettman (EE MVE)

<<The only problem, is that I currently don't know to map something like "D:\Test" to something like "\\TestServer\Client1">>

If you want to map the drive, you need to open Windows Explorer and right click on "this PC", then map network drive.

If you want to end up with UNC, then start with "Network". Browser to the server, then to the share.

If you can't browse to the server, you can right click on "this PC", and choose "Add a network location". You can setup a network location, FTP site, or web URL this way (Access can only use the network location and only if it's on the local LAN).

Jim.

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PatHartman

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Qlemo

If you really need to "mimic" UNC, you can allow file sharing on your PC. Just use the Sharing Wizard via context menu on the test folder. Then you can use \\yourpc\yourshare\...

Andy Brown

ASKER

Thanks everyone for your help.