Sharing Database - Windows/XP (RESTATED)

[Phillip Richcreek]

Thanks to all who have replied to this so far. The thread is getting a
bit tangled, so I'd like to restate the question, incorporating
information that was elicited by and/or stated from your responses and
my subsequent replies. If anyone has any further suggestion, I'd
appreciate it.

SUMMARY
o Windowx/XP. Two computers on a wireless network
o Want to share GnuCash accounts database
o Can open the database OK on the computer where the database physically resides
o Cannot open the database on the other computer. Get unable to obtain
lock message

DETAIL
I want to run GnuCash against a single Account Database from two
computers that are connected via a wireless network. Both computers
are running Windows/XP Home Edition SP3. For simplicity let's call the
two computers DELL and HP. The Account Database resides on the DELL
file system. It is defined as a shared directory/file on HP. I want to
be able to access the database from either computer in write mode, but
only from one of the computers at a given point in time. It is
acceptable if, when one of the computers has the database open for
write and the other computer tries to run GnuCash, it would be denied
access altogether or would be given a warning that it may access the
database for read-only.

As of now, when I try to open the database from the HP computer,
whether the database is open on DELL or not, I get the warning message
"GnuCash could not obtain the lock for \\Dell-8250-den\network shared
files\GnuCash\Account Database" At that point, I respond that I would
like to have read-only access and GnuCash opens the database. From the
accounts and data that are displayed, I can see that it is looking at
the correct database.

The DELL system has granted "full control" permission (W/XP
terminology) for the Account Database directory to all users on both
DELL and HP. (In this context all users means, not specific,
individual users, but all users as a group.) I've verified that I can
write a new file,  update an existing file, and create a new
directory, from HP into the directory on the DELL system.

I'd be interested in knowing the details of the lock or open that is
failing that prompts GnuCash to issue the unable to obtain lock
message. I do see a .LCK file in "\\Dell-8250-den\network shared
files\GnuCash\", the directory where the database lives, when DELL has
the database open, but it is not there after the DELL GnuCash process
has ended and when HP tries to open the database. One individual
pointed out that, at UNIX, there is also a .LNK file involved. I don't
see any such file in my case. Could there be some other directory that
I'm aware of? If there is another, I would probably need to grant
"full control" access to that directory as well.

One individual pointed out that there is a bug report at
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=352491 that may be related
to this issue. From what I can tell, that is a different issue.

Thanks again,

Phil(R)