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Packaging as an ACCDE (Locking Down Your Design)
Converting a finished database to an ACCDE file compiles its VBA code and locks forms, reports, and modules from being viewed or edited, while still letting people use it normally.
Field Notes: A Locked Copy for Distribution
Goal
Package a finished database as an ACCDE file for distribution.
This protects your design and code from accidental — or deliberate — changes, and is a common, professional final step before handing a finished database to people who should use it, but shouldn't modify how it was built.
1
Back up the original first
Do this
Make a full backup copy of your original .accdb file first — this step cannot be reversed on the resulting file.
Verification
Check your work
You are correct if all of these are true:
- Distribute this new .accde file to end users instead of your original .accdb file.
More lessons in Microsoft Access · Next: Backing Up Your Database · Previous: User-Level Security Concepts (A Brief, Legacy Note)