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Using Pas on Windows XP with SP3 and on Windows Vista by users with standard accounts

 

Problem symptoms

• “Cannot install ODBC access driver for Satec applications"

• "ODBC Driver Error. The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file ..."

One of these messages, or one like these, is displayed and PAS is closed if you logged on to Windows XP with SP3 or on Windows Vista using a non-administrator password.

Cause

Unlike previous releases, Windows XP with service pack SP3 and Windows Vista restrict access to individual folders and files based on user group membership. When a new folder is created, only a folder owner and administrators have default permissions to modify it contents. When a file is created in or moved to a folder, it inherits permissions given to its parent folder. Nobody else have permissions to modify files in this folder or to grant permissions to other users.

To install Pas on your computer, you must log on to Windows as Administrator. The result is that the Pas installation folder and all files it contains require administrator permissions to modify them. When a user with a standard account launches Pas, the program causes access violation when tries to modify its databases and is closed by Windows.

Workaround

1. Grant folder write permissions to standard users before installing PAS files to its installation folder. On Windows Vista, you can leave default folder permissions unless you install Pas into the C:\Program Files\ folder. 
2. Upgrade your Pas.exe and language libraries to Pas V1.4 Build 3 or higher, which will restore write permissions after compacting databases - this is a protected operation that does not preserve non-system permissions.

Use one of the following Solutions:

Solution 1

Use Pas V1.4 Build 3 installation packet, or higher. This installation automatically extends permissions for the Pas folder and gives standard users full access rights to files it contains.

Solution 2

1. Manually extend permissions for Users group before installing Pas on your computer. It allows you to continue using your older Pas installation packet but still requires upgrading Pas executable files - Pas.exe and language libraries, - to Pas V1.4 Build 3 or higher. 
   
   Log on to Windows as an Administrator and go to My Computer. 
2. Remove your present PAS installation folder if exists.
3. Manually create a new "Pas" folder.
4. Click on the created Pas folder with the right mouse button and select Properties.
5. Click on the Security tab, click on Users on the "Group or user names" pane, check the "Allow" box in the "Full Control" row on the lower pane, and then click OK.
6. Run Setup from your Pas installation CD and point to your manually created Pas folder when asked for a destination folder.
7. When installation is completed, replace Pas.exe and .dll language libraries with version V1.4 Build 3 or higher.