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January 2, 2010 11:38 AM

[CSIfilter] Need to find out who has modified certain records in Office Access.

[CSIfilter] Need to find out who has modified certain records in Office Access. My google-fu only found me how to add timestamps when users modify records. Is this possible?
posted by jstarlee to Computers & Internet (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
Retrospectively or prospectively?
posted by shothotbot at 11:41 AM on January 2, 2010


See: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA010345351033.aspx

Among other links: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=time+stamp+ms+access&aq=f&aqi=g-sx1&oq=&fp=cbc2f75bf9d43a8f

If you want to do this retrospectively, I'm pretty sure that can't be done.
posted by dfriedman at 11:46 AM on January 2, 2010


The timestamp was the only thing I could found on google, which doesn't really really help. I need to find out if a certain user modified several records for his own benefits or not.

So, retrospectively.

If that's not possible, is there a way to do it prospectively?
posted by jstarlee at 11:50 AM on January 2, 2010


It depends on where the database is stored. If it's local(on his machine), the timestamps + a frequent backup would allow you to see when the original was entered, then crossreference the changes and when they were made.

If it's on a server, you'll have more options. You'll probably need to do this as a one-two punch kind of thing. One, get the timestamp feature up, and then get a second program, something like an extensive logging program, running on the server, that will tell you who's connected, and what files are open. There are a few out there, but I haven't had to deal with Access in a while. Then cross reference with the timestamp, and you've got your proof.

Or, you could install a keylogging program or the suspected employees computer. It's a pain, but you'll have a secret way of finding out exactly what he's entering and doing.
posted by chambers at 12:12 PM on January 2, 2010


Unless you've enabled filesystem auditing on the server prior, or enabled some sort of logging functionality in MS Access itself, I don't think you can do this.

For future reference, you can enable filesystem auditing in the Windows server OS itself, and then every access to specified files can be logged.
posted by me & my monkey at 12:24 PM on January 2, 2010


From my experience you won't get the granularity you need just from filesystem auditing for Access and AFAIK internally it will not track access/modifications unless someone designed and programmed that into your custom Access solution/application.
posted by jkaczor at 12:38 PM on January 2, 2010


Thank you for all your answers.

Much appreciated.
posted by jstarlee at 1:48 PM on January 2, 2010


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