Refreshing Linked Tables in Access

Introduction

  In many small offices Access is used as the database. The database application is created by using Access as the front end (The part of the database application which has the User interface , Data entry forms, Reports etc) as well as the backend (The part of the database application which has the data) of the database application. In such cases the front end and backend are separate files . The backend is installed on one computer and the front end is installed on one or more computers as per requirements. This enables multiple users to enter, view and process data simultaneously. Whenever there is a system crash and all the applications have to be reinstalled on an existing PC or a new PC has to be given access to the database, the linked tables in the database front end will have to be refreshed.
  Suppose a database application consists of the following two files: StudentsDb_FE.mde (the front end) and StudentsDb.mdb (the Back end) . The file StudentsDb.mdb( viz the Back end) is installed in the computer which has the identification Newpc on the network .
The following are the steps required to be executed in order to refresh the linked tables.
  Start Access and open the file StudentsDb_FE.mde . Go to Tools –> Database Utilities –> Linked Table Manager

Linked table Manager

  The Linked Table Manager will open and display a list of linked tables of the currently opened database front end.

  First Click on "Always prompt for new location". Then click on “Select All”. Then Click on “OK”. The linked table manager will now prompt you for the location. Our back end database is installed in the folder C:\ My Documents of the computer which has the identification Newpc on the network . We have to browse to Network Neighborhood . From Network Neighborhood we have to select Newpc and locate the folder C:\ My Documents.

   After this is done simply select the file StudentsDb.mdb and click on open.

   If you have selected the correct database a message will be displayed “All selected linked tables were successfully refreshed”. On clicking “OK” the linked table manager will be displayed along the list of linked tables indicating the new location of the back end against each table.

   Now click on the “Close” button and exit “Linked Table Manager”.