Here is a simple example of a batch file that looks for a new version on the user's local drive and copies over a new 
version if it exists.  Instructions for use are below the code.

***************START SAMPLE***************

@echo off

if not exist "C:\ACCESS\DB_feV111603.txt" goto updatedb:
goto startdb

:updatedb

md "C:\ACCESS" >nul
if not exist "C:\ACCESS\StartDB.lnk" copy H:\ACCESS\StartDB.lnk "C:\ACCESS" >nul
goto getdb

:getdb

del "C:\ACCESS\DB_feV*.txt" >nul
copy H:\ACCESS\DB_feV111603.txt "C:\ACCESS" >nul
copy H:\ACCESS\DB_fe.mdb "C:\ACCESS" >nul

:startdb

"C:\Access\StartDB.lnk"

@CLS
@EXIT

***************END SAMPLE***************


Instructions:

1.Make a directory on your network drive and put your backend database in it. (If you ahve a secured database, 
you must also put your workgroup .mdw file here as well) All users must have full permissions on this directory. 
In this example the directory is H:\ACCESS.

2.Create a matching directory on your local drive.  In this example the directopry is C:\ACCESS

3.Create a blank .txt file with a version name and save a copy in both your local and network directories. In this 
example this file is named DB_feV111603.txt.

4.Put a copy of your front-end database in both the local and network directories.

5.Create a shortcut in your network directory that opens the front-end database in the local drive with the correct 
workgroup (if secured). In this example that shortcut is named StartDB.lnk and the path is: "C:\Program 
Files\Microsoft Office\Office\msaccess.exe" "C:\ACCESS\DB_fe.mdb" /wrkgrp "H:\ACCESS\system.mdw" (If 
your database is not secured, leave out "/wrkgrp…")

6.Create a text document, paste the above batch file commands into it, and save it in your network directory with 
a .bat extension.  In this example we will name this file DB.bat

7.Create a shortcut on your desktop to the batch file you just created. In this example the command line is: 
H:\ACCESS\DB.bat



Now it's time to test it!
1.Delete the local directory that you made (C:\ACCESS) and all it's contents.

2.Double click on the shortcut you gave yourself on your desktop. Your database should open. 

3.You will see that the directory C:\ACCESS has been created and that there are three files in it: 
DB_feV111603.txt, StartDB.lnk, and DB_fe.mdb.  



Distributing new versions to users:
1.Change the version number in your text file name (DB_feV111603.txt) on the network drive.

2.Open the batch file as a text document (I keep a .txt copy for editing and just use Save As) and change the name 
of the text file (occurs twice) to match and save it as a .bat again.

3.Instruct your front end users to close their datases and re-open to receive the new version.


And that's it! 



Here's a tougher sample that looks for two different locations for the msaccess.exe file.  It actually looks for the
directory and then directs the user to the correct .lnk file accordingly.



***************START SAMPLE***************

@echo off

if not exist "C:\ACCESS\DB_feV111603.txt" goto updatedb:
goto startdb

:updatedb

md "C:\ACCESS" >nul
if not exist "C:\Program Files\Acc97" goto get97:
if not exist "C:\ACCESS\DB00.lnk" copy H:\ACCESS\DB00.lnk "C:\ACCESS" >nul
goto getdb

:get97

if not exist "C:\ACCESS\DB97.lnk" copy H:\ACCESS\DB97.lnk "C:\ACCESS" >nul

:getdb

del "C:\ACCESS\DB_feV*.txt" >nul
copy H:\ACCESS\DB_feV111603.txt "C:\ACCESS" >nul
copy H:\ACCESS\DB_fe.mdb "C:\ACCESS" >nul

:startdb

if not exist "C:\Program Files\Acc97" goto start97:
"C:\Access\DB00.lnk"
goto end:

:start97

"C:\Access\DB97.lnk"

:end

@CLS
@EXIT

***************END SAMPLE***************