Access split database on network shared drive - Data not updating and incorrect for some users

Question

I have had a similar issue with Microsoft Excel and Access with shared files on a network drive.  Our group's shared area is a network folder created on an individual's machine who shared the folder and provided read and write access to all applicable team members.

Excel Issue:

We had a spreadsheet that was shared and multiple users would update at the same time.  For 1 or 2 individuals, strange things eventually started to happen.  They would attempt to update the shared file, but when they opened it, it was essentially their own working file.  Data entered by others would not show and when they updated the file and saved, their updates were not seen when somebody else opened the file.  It is like they were operating in a parallel file.  BUT only 1 file showed in the folder.  Group is only about 15.  Never solved this problem.

Access Issue:

Same share location and group as above.  I created a split database with the backend file stored on the network folder.  Individuals copied the frontend to their local machine desktops.  Similar issue as Excel.  One User (different from those having Excel issues) does not see updated data and their changes are not seen by others.  The Table Links to the backend look correct.  I even had the user open the backend directly and they saw different data than I saw on my machine.  Again, only one backend file exists in the shared folder.

I can't figure it out for the life of me.  How can one file show different data to different users?  What can cause this issue?  It works well for 95% of the team, but not everyone.

How can I fix this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Excel Issue - I would expect that, Excel is not *set up* for shared use.  Usually, the first one to open it is the lucky one, everyone else is just opening a *snapshot* of the data at it's prior Save.  If they select Save it will default to Save As because the first User is the only one who can actually save.  No fix that I am aware of.

Access Issue - I would suggest recreating the Linked Tables because it sound like the few are connected to a different Backend.  It may even be an archived one.  Also, are you using a mapped drive or UNC?