Sharing Database - Windows/XP (RESTATED)

[Phillip Richcreek]

Geert,

>
> Just a thought: if you reboot both computers, and then try to open the file on
> HP first (without first opening it on DELL), do you also get the error ?
>

Yep, that did the trick. I can open file first on either computer and
the other will (correctly) get the unable to lock message and then
give the option to go ahead and open anyway (read-only). This is
helpful (read-only) because while the file is open for write on one
computer, the other user will often simply want to browse the account
balances, etc., and will be able to do so. But the file is still
protected against concurrent update.

I'm certain that I re-booted the DELL at least twice. I remember,
because I had to get into SAFE mode to be able to get to the XP
security and sharing options, which are "cloaked" in the Home edition
(versus Pro Edition). I don't remember re-booting the HP and
apparently I did not.

Thanks for your help.

Phil(R)

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 1:03 PM, Geert Janssens
<janssens-geert at telenet.be> wrote:
> On Friday 23 April 2010, Phillip Richcreek wrote:
>> 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
>>
>> 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.
>>
> Isn't there an option to ignore the lock file and open the file anyway as
> read/write ? If so, what happens if you select that one ?
>
>> 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.
>>
> This is a strange problem. I tried to reproduce your situation. When I access
> a gnucash file over the network (also both WinXP machines), this works without
> a problem.
>
> Just a thought: if you reboot both computers, and then try to open the file on
> HP first (without first opening it on DELL), do you also get the error ?
>
>> 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.
>>
> I agree, I don't think this issue is directly related.
>
> Geert
>