Opening multiple files

[Derek Atkins]

Eric Siegerman <pub08-gnc at davor.org> writes:

> [ Changing the subject line, as this has strayed pretty far
>   afield of the OP's question ]
>
> On 03/30/2015 10:48 AM, David Carlson wrote:
>> When I said " multiple instances of GnuCash opening
>> several data files at once" I was referring to a single user opening
>> multiple instances of GnuCash with different data files in the same user
>> space.  That is not recommended because the same prefs files are used
>> and GnuCash will shoot itself in the foot when the program is closed.
>
> What does "shooting itself in the foot" look like?
>
> Suppose I open two different .gnucash files -- necessarily in two
> GnuCash processes -- as the same Linux/Windows/MacOS user.  (XML
> backend, which is what I'm using.)
>
> Am I correct in assuming that:
>   - as regards the actual accounting data -- the .gnucash files
>     themselves -- everything will be fine; no interaction
>     between the two
>
>   - as regards prefs, the last process to exit will win; its
>     prefs will silently overwrite those from the gnc process
>     that exited earlier
>
>   - it doesn't matter which OS you're running; it works the same
>     way on all of them
>
> Or can things get more screwed up than that?

I am pretty sure this is the case.

> I've done this sometimes, and want to know just how unsafe it
> actually is.  The wrong set of prefs getting saved, I can live
> with.  (I try to avoid that by sequencing my "File>Quit"s
> correctly, but even if I mess up, it's no big deal).
>
> But if opening multiple files at once risks data corruption,
> that's another order of "don't do it!" entirely...
>
> (Of couse, opening the *same* .gnucash file in two processes at
> once is a recipe for disaster.  My question isn't about that!)
>
> Thanks,
>   - Eric

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-derek

-- 
       Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory
       Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board  (SIPB)
       URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA     N1NWH
       warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP key available