Access levels for a database

To change an access level for a user, you must have Manager access to the database.

About this task

Table 1. Access levels

Access level

Allows users to

Assign to

Manager

Delete the database

Encrypt the database

Modify replication settings

Modify the database ACL

Perform all tasks allowed by lower access levels

Two people who are responsible for the database. If one person is absent, the other can manage the database.

Designer

Create a full-text search index

Modify all database design elements (fields, forms, views, public agents, the database icon, Using This Database document, and About This Database document)

Perform all tasks allowed by lower access levels

A database designer and/or the person responsible for future design updates.

Editor

Create documents

Edit all documents, including those created by others

Read all documents unless there is a Readers field in the form (you can't edit a document if you can't read it)

Any user allowed to create and edit documents in a database.

Author

Note: Author access, by default, does not include the access level option "Create documents." When you assign Author access to a user or server, you must also specify the "Create documents" access level privilege.

Create documents

Edit the documents where there is an Authors field in the document and the user is specified in the Authors field

Read all documents unless there is a Readers field in the form

Users who need to contribute documents to a database.

When possible, use Author access rather than Editor access to reduce Replication or Save Conflicts.

Reader

Note: Reader access lets you read all documents unless there is a Readers field in the form. Then you can read a document only if your name is listed in the Readers field on the form.

Read documents

Users who only need to read documents in a database, but not create or edit documents.

Depositor

Create documents

Users who only need to contribute documents, but who do not need to read or edit their own or other users' documents. For example, use Depositor access for a ballot box application.

No Access

None, with the exception of options to "Read public documents" and "Write public documents"

Terminated users, who do not need access to the database, or users who have access on a special basis. Also, users who do not need access but are part of a group that does have access.

Should be assigned as the default access to prevent most users from accessing a confidential database.