Problem:

Failure to open data file - "Your data file needs updated" OR cannot open a data file from a shared location

Cause:

Security Settings in Access need to be updated (see You receive a security warning when opening ShoWorks)

OR...

Microsoft Access bug

Microsoft released a faulty Microsoft Office security update on December 14, 2021 which causes Microsoft Access databases such as ShoWorks data files, when located on shared drives, to be inadvertantly locked when opening and/or after users exit the data file. This causes erroneous messages to update the database, and prevents other users from opening the database and multiuser database sharing.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug and has provided a fix/patch to correct the issue. Until released in the planned regular quarterly updates, users may download the patch and install manually from the link below.

Solution:

Run Microsoft Office Updates if after 4/1/2022, or if prior or you wish to only patch Microsoft Access, check to determine the version of Microsoft Access installed on your machine, then download (the 32-bit version) and install the appropriate patch from Microsoft (below).

Manually download and install the update patch here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/error-in-access-when-opening-a-database-on-a-network-file-share-6cbc1560-62c2-46e7-9980-d079a46f5acc

More Information: See https://blog.fmsinc.com/microsoft-access-database-cannot-open-error-could-not-lock-file-error-3050/