DAO Object
 
Sets or returns a value indicating the type of locking that is in effect while editing.
 

Syntax

expression .LockEdits
expression A variable that represents a Recordset object.
 

Remarks

The setting or return value indicates the type of locking, as specified in the following table.
Value
Description
True
Default. Pessimistic locking is in effect. The page containing the record you're editing is locked as soon as you call the Edit method.
False
Optimistic locking is in effect for editing. The page containing the record is not locked until the Update method is executed.
 
You can use the LockEdits property with updatable Recordset objects.
 
If a page is locked, no other user can edit records on the same page. If you set LockEdits to True and another user already has the page locked, an error occurs when you use the Edit method. Other users can read data from locked pages.
 
If you set the LockEdits property to False and later use the Update method while another user has the page locked, an error occurs. To see the changes made to your record by another user, use the Move method with 0 as the argument; however, if you do this, you will lose your changes.
 
When working with Microsoft Access database engine-connected ODBC data sources, the LockEdits property is always set to False, or optimistic locking. The Microsoft Access database engine has no control over the locking mechanisms used in external database servers.
 
 Note
You can preset the value of LockEdits when you first open the Recordset by setting the lockedits argument of the OpenRecordset method. Setting the lockedits argument to dbPessimistic will set the LockEdits property to True, and setting lockedits to any other value will set the LockEdits property to False.
 

Example

This example demonstrates pessimistic locking by setting the LockEdits property to True, and then demonstrates optimistic locking by setting the LockEdits property to False. It also demonstrates what kind of error handling is required in a multiuser database environment in order to modify a field. The PessimisticLock and OptimisticLock functions are required for this procedure to run.
 
Sub LockEditsX()
    
     Dim dbsNorthwind As Database
     Dim rstCustomers As Recordset
     Dim strOldName As String
    
     Set dbsNorthwind = OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")
     Set rstCustomers = _
     dbsNorthwind.OpenRecordset("Customers", _
     dbOpenDynaset)
    
     With rstCustomers
     ' Store original data.
     strOldName = !CompanyName
    
     If MsgBox("Pessimistic locking demonstration...", _
     vbOKCancel) = vbOK Then
    
     ' Attempt to modify data with pessimistic locking
     ' in effect.
     If PessimisticLock(rstCustomers, !CompanyName, _
     "Acme Foods") Then
     MsgBox "Record successfully edited."
    
     ' Restore original data...
     .Edit
     !CompanyName = strOldName
     .Update
     End If
    
     End If
    
     If MsgBox("Optimistic locking demonstration...", _
     vbOKCancel) = vbOK Then
    
     ' Attempt to modify data with optimistic locking
     ' in effect.
     If OptimisticLock(rstCustomers, !CompanyName, _
     "Acme Foods") Then
     MsgBox "Record successfully edited."
    
     ' Restore original data...
     .Edit
     !CompanyName = strOldName
     .Update
     End If
    
     End If
    
     .Close
     End With
    
     dbsNorthwind.Close
    
    End Sub
    
    Function PessimisticLock(rstTemp As Recordset, _
     fldTemp As Field, strNew As String) As Boolean
    
     dim ErrLoop as Error
    
     PessimisticLock = True
    
     With rstTemp
     .LockEdits = True
    
     ' When you set LockEdits to True, you trap for errors
     ' when you call the Edit method.
     On Error GoTo Err_Lock
     .Edit
     On Error GoTo 0
    
     ' If the Edit is still in progress, then no errors
     ' were triggered; you may modify the data.
     If .EditMode = dbEditInProgress Then
     fldTemp = strNew
     .Update
     .Bookmark = .LastModified
     Else
     ' Retrieve current record to see changes made by
     ' other user.
     .Move 0
     End If
    
     End With
    
     Exit Function
    
    Err_Lock:
    
     If DBEngine.Errors.Count > 0 Then
     ' Enumerate the Errors collection.
     For Each errLoop In DBEngine.Errors
     MsgBox "Error number: " & errLoop.Number & _
     vbCr & errLoop.Description
     Next errLoop
     PessimisticLock = False
     End If
    
     Resume Next
    
    End Function
    
    Function OptimisticLock(rstTemp As Recordset, _
     fldTemp As Field, strNew As String) As Boolean
    
     dim ErrLoop as Error
    
     OptimisticLock = True
    
     With rstTemp
     .LockEdits = False
     .Edit
     fldTemp = strNew
    
     ' When you set LockEdits to False, you trap for errors
     ' when you call the Update method.
     On Error GoTo Err_Lock
     .Update
     On Error GoTo 0
    
     ' If there is no Edit in progress, then no errors were
     ' triggered; you may modify the data.
     If .EditMode = dbEditNone Then
     ' Move current record pointer to the most recently
     ' modified record.
     .Bookmark = .LastModified
     Else
     .CancelUpdate
     ' Retrieve current record to see changes made by
     ' other user.
     .Move 0
     End If
    
     End With
    
     Exit Function
    
    Err_Lock:
    
     If DBEngine.Errors.Count > 0 Then
     ' Enumerate the Errors collection.
     For Each errLoop In DBEngine.Errors
     MsgBox "Error number: " & errLoop.Number & _
     vbCr & errLoop.Description
     Next errLoop
     OptimisticLock = False
     End If
    
     Resume Next
    
End Function