Opening a shared database is as easy as switching databases. In the startup wizard, just click Select a Database. (Remember that if you need to open the startup wizard, you can do so by clicking the Business Tools menu and clicking Create or Select a Database.)

 

Then, type in the computer name and click Connect. Once Business Contact Manager has connected to the other computer (this may take a few moments), you will have a list of databases available just like we did when we were switching databases.

 

Before you can access a database, however, we must set up sharing. Here’s how to do it:

-       Click the Business Tools menu.

-       Click Share Database. You’ll see this screen:

 

 

-       Read the warnings in this box. Note that sharing your database means that e-mail linking will not work.

-       Click “I still want to share my Business Contact Manager data with other users” and click Next.

 

 

-       If the user you want to add is another user of this computer, check their user name. If the user is not already added, click the Add button to add them. (You must specify a password in the Add field to be able to add a user. You may also check the box Allow this user to log onto this computer to create them a Windows user account on your computer. (Note that the user name you enter for this person must be the same name that they use to log onto Windows.)

-       Once you have added users, click Next. In this screen, Business Contact Manager will warn you that it is going to adjust your Windows security settings to allow sharing. You can check the “Let me review settings that will be changed box” to view the changes Business Contact Manager will make.

-       If you check this box, you will see a summary of the system changes when you click Next.

 

 

-       If you don’t check this box, Business Contact Manager will just make the changes when you click Next.

-       In the last screen, Business Contact Manager will summarize the changes that have been made. Click Finish to close the wizard

 

Then, Outlook will give you instructions that you can pass onto other people so that they can access your database.

 

If you want to stop sharing your database, just follow these steps:

-       Click the Business Tools menu.

-       Click Share Database.

-       Click “I do not want to share my Business Contact Manager data with other users.”

-       Click Next and then click Finish.

 

That’s all there is to using shared databases!