Command to start an MS-Access-Database with security workgroup attribute with a Powershell Script

Question

Command to start an MS-Access-Database with security workgroup attribute with a Powershell Script

Kei-Koo 1

Hi,

I'm new to Powershell scripting and I'm currently writing my first script.
I have a problem for which I haven't found a solution even after a long search on the web.Maybe someone here can put me on the right track.

In my script I wanna start an MSAccess database, with the /wrkgrp attribute.
Unfortunately, I can't get this running with a Powershell command.

A few informations:
The command line used in a local desktop shortcut to start the Database with secure workgroup:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb" /wrkgrp "\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

I can also enter this command line in the old CMD console and starting the database.

In Powershell I have already made several attempts, first with the "Invoke-Item" command:

Invoke-Item "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb" /wrkgrp "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

and then with the "Start-Process" command:

Start-Process "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb" /wrkgrp "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

So far without success.

As an alternative I used the following command that use the old CMD console.
This works, but I would like to change this code line to a "clean" Powershell command, without using the old CMD console command.

CMD /c "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb" /wrkgrp "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

I hope I was able to describe my concern clearly and now I hope for an interesting exchange.

Many Thanks

2 answers

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Answer 1

Rich Matheisen 47,901

Why not keep it simple and use the "Call" operator?

& "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb" /wrkgrp "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw"

Kei-Koo 1 Reputation point

2021-01-12T11:03:41.46+00:00

Hi Rich,

Many thanks for this post!

For a newby as mee, this simple command looks simply genius ;)
As mentioned, I'm new in Powershell and didn't know that I can call this entire command string by this way.
This is already a nice solution for me.
But a question....
With this solution, there are no optional parameters possible, as for the Start-Process command (adding credentials, control the style or visibility of the Window, etc...)?
So, if any additional settings needed, exist there another solution?

regards
Rich Matheisen 47,901 Reputation points

2021-01-12T15:45:59.98+00:00
If you require more flexibility then Start-Process is the place to look. However, the reason it failed your attempt to use it in your original example is that the "-ArgumentList" parameter accepts an array of argument. Your example gave three separate strings, If you'd separated those strings with commas instead of spaces you'd have had more success. :-)

When you have many parameters to pass using an array of strings in the cmdlet it can make your code difficult to read. A better technique is to build the argument set separately and then use the array variable in the cmdlet.

$ArgList = "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\Database.mdb", "/wrkgrp", "\\SRV2013-01.db.net\DBs\WGs\MyWorkgroup.mdw" Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" -ArgumentList $ArgList

Answer 2

Biju Philip Jacob 1

Thanks Rich

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Command to start an MS-Access-Database with security workgroup attribute with a Powershell Script

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