Database Security with ODBC users...

> I have an order entry application that has been written with the Fourgen > Case Tools and Informix 5.01 SE on a RS/6000. I would like to use a > third party product for simple ad-hoc reporting like MS Access using > ODBC and INET. Is there a way to protect the database from any > unfortunate updates while using MS Access? I will be using the same > user-id for the order entry application as well as MS Access. > > I posted to the net a month or so ago concerning this with little > response. Is there some better way of doing what I want? Any thoughts > or suggestions would be appreciated. > > Richard Shannon > Willamette Industries, Inc. > (503) 227-5581 > (503) 626-5221 fax Well...that depends on what you mean by "unfortunate updates". If your intention is to prevent the MS Access user from modifying the data then a good way is to create a query-only account from which to run. Use the Informix db and table-level permissions to control access. If, OTOH, you're trying to prevent changes to the database from occurring *during the time it takes to execute the query*, then you will have to use other measures. These include implementing row-level locking (and the resultant wait/fail for the other would-be users) or some OS level locking scheme. We've had fairly good luck with MS Access, and for some applications it is the optimum current solution. Good luck, __________________________________________________________________ | Clem Akins Standard Disclaimers Apply | |Reynolds Metals Co, Alloys Plant "Climb High, Cave Deep!" | | Muscle Shoals, Alabama USA cwakins@leia.alloys.rmc.com | |________________________________________________________________|