Using Source Control with Access

This content is no longer actively maintained. It is provided as is, for anyone who may still be using these technologies, with no warranties or claims of accuracy with regard to the most recent product version or service release.

When working with a Microsoft Access database, you can store the database file (.mdb) and all its contained objects in Visual SourceSafe using the Access Source Control add-in.

The Access Source Control add-in is installed as part of the Office 2000 Developer tools setup and is immediately available from the Tools menu within Access.

Each of your databases is stored in a Visual SourceSafe project. Query, form, report, macro, and module objects are stored as text files in the project associated with the database they are used in. Other objects, known as the Data and Misc. objects, (tables, relationships, toolbars, database properties, import/export specifications, and so on) are stored in a special file with an .acb extension in the Visual SourceSafe project. This .acb file should be treated with care — you should not rename or share this file in Visual SourceSafe, or you risk database corruption.

A shared object can simultaneously exist in many projects. When you modify a shared object in one project, the change is automatically propagated to all the projects that share the object. You can share a form between databases or have multiple teams developing a module simultaneously.

For additional information about the Access Source Control add-in, see the documentation associated with that add-in. (Sccaccus.hlp is located in the ..\Microsoft Office\ODETools\V9 folder.) You can also access the documentation from within the add-in dialog boxes by pressing F1.