Multi user access to table data....

Hi, Multiple users need to access a particular table(t_acctno) data. Lets assume that the table has information on diff account numbers. The requirement is not to allow multiple users to access a particulart account number at the same time. Only one user must access the data at one point of time. Different approaches thought by me : 1. Have a flag in the table and set the flag when a user accesses the account information and reset the flag when the user is done. But... if the user connection to db goes off abruptly ... the flag will never be reset ... 2. Retrieve last modified datetime while retrieving the account information and verify it before commiting the modification.... But ... if it had been modified, the user need to retrieve the data again and modify it ... Is there any other way of doing the above without any flag .... I need a solution very urgently ... Pl. help me out ... Thanks in advance, krishnakumar Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.