Cursor and lock characteristics

Applies to: Access 2013, Office 2013

While the characteristics of a cursor depend upon capabilities of the provider, the following advantages and disadvantages generally apply to the various types of cursors and locks.

Cursor or lock type	Advantages	Disadvantages
adOpenForwardOnly	Low resource requirements	Cannot scroll backward No data concurrency
adOpenStatic	Scrollable	No data concurrency
adOpenKeyset	Some data concurrency Scrollable	Higher resource requirements Not available in disconnected scenario
adOpenDynamic	High data concurrency Scrollable	Highest resource requirements Not available in disconnected scenario
adLockReadOnly	Low resource requirements Highly scalable	Data not updatable through cursor
adLockBatchOptimistic	Batch updates Allows disconnected scenarios Other users able to access data	Data can be changed by multiple users at once
adLockPessimistic	Data cannot be changed by other users while locked	Prevents other users from accessing data while locked
adLockOptimistic	Other users able to access data	Data can be changed by multiple users at once