Unable to create forms in database

We recently upgraded from Office 97 to 2003. We have a database which
contains several forms/queries used by all. I run into problems when I am
trying to create a new form in a database that is being used by a coworker.
They are not accessing my form but one not connected. But I am getting the
following message. " you do not have exclusive access to teh database at
this time. If you proceed to make changes, you may not be able to save them
later." Is this a security setting that can be changed? This was never a
problem in the earlier versions of Access.

thanks