[GNC] GnuCash 5.11 FlatPak on Linux Mint 21: Software doesn't respect read-only gnucash file

Thu Jun 12 11:59:08 EDT 2025

The issue is that the directory has write permission, which allows files to
be renamed.

So, GnuCash reads the read-only file, and then, when it goes to "save" the
file, it renames the old file and creates a new one. It IS a little unusual
to have a just-written file NOT have "write" permissions; I assume GnuCash
just clones the existing permissions.

If you want an archived version, I would copy the appropriate .gnucash file
to some kind of archive directory... for example, if the path to your
regular GnuCash files ends with ".../gnucash/", you could create a
".../gnucashARCHIVE/" to hold your archive files. The only problem is that
if you make the directory read-only, you may not be able to open the files,
as GnuCash couldn't create the log files. There may be an option in GnuCash
to open a file as read-only (because I know that if the LCK file is
present, one option is to open the file as read-only).

On Thu, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM James Thorpe <James at fusionsystems.co.za>
wrote:

> Hi All
>
> I'm using Version: 5.11, Build ID: Flathub 5.11-2 on Linux Mint 21 and I
> recently noticed that even if I set the user permissions on my gnucash
> file to read-only (eg. chmod a-w gc.gnucash) and then open the file with
> GnuCash, I'm able to update the file from GnuCash and when I close it
> again, I notice the permissions have changed back to rw.
>
> After my chmod command, it looks like this
>
> -r-xr-xr-x  1 james james  86022 Jun  9 14:17 gc.gnucash
>
> If I then open gnucash and this file and make changes, a bunch of logs
> etc appear
>
> -rw-r--r--  1 james james    359 Jun 12 08:26 gc.gnucash.20250612082607.log
> -r-xr-xr-x  1 james james  86181 Jun 12 08:26 gc.gnucash
> -rw-r--r--  1 james james    679 Jun 12 08:26 gc.gnucash.20250612082600.log
> -r-xr-xr-x  1 james james  86022 Jun 12 08:25
> gc.gnucash.20250612082607.gnucash
>
> but the original file gc.gnucash remains read-only. But the changes are
> there and have been saved, even if I delete the logs and other files.
>
> Bottom line - I'm trying to save a read-only copy of a file that I'm
> done with and just want for reporting/ reference purposes. How do I do
> that?
>
> I'm guessing it's a flatpak thing because it doesn't seem to do this on
> Windows version... even if I access the same file on a shared network
> folder.
>
> thanks for any suggestions.
>
> James Thorpe
>
> On 2025/06/11 18:00, gnucash-user-request at gnucash.org wrote:
> > Send gnucash-user mailing list submissions to
> >       gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> >       https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> >       gnucash-user-request at gnucash.org
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> >       gnucash-user-owner at gnucash.org
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of gnucash-user digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >     1.  No longer able to access my accounting software (Mark Penner)
> >     2. Re:  Suggestion to Accept Bitcoin/Lightning/Monero Donations
> >        (David Carlson)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:46:30 -0500 (CDT)
> > From: Mark Penner<mrp at markpenner.space>
> > To:gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> > Subject: [GNC] No longer able to access my accounting software
> > Message-ID:<c803383e-3ca8-4752-b5ef-516573f9f783 at markpenner.space>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > Jun 11, 2025 05:01:46 Vik Sha via gnucash-user<gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> >:
> >
> >> I keep getting the following messages every time I try to open it :
> > If you're trying to send an image, you need to attach it, the mailing
> list software strips inline images.
> >
> > If the message you're getting says something like "unable to obtain lock
> for file", and you're SURE that the file is not open (e.g. in another
> GnuCash instance), just click "Open Anyway"
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:56:50 -0500
> > From: David Carlson<david.carlson.417 at gmail.com>
> > To: 83281<83281 at protonmail.com>
> > Cc:gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> > Subject: Re: [GNC] Suggestion to Accept Bitcoin/Lightning/Monero
> >       Donations
> > Message-ID:
> >       <
> CADYgSbm5FWEK+1vpWTi_XaFfvZ+mGfOAYS9cr8RMj4qBCk5hjQ at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> >
> > I hope the developers can identify whether this is phishing or worse!!!!!
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 11, 2025 at 5:02?AM 83281 via gnucash-user <
> > gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I hope this message finds you well. I am a supporter of your open-source
> >> project GnuCash and would like to make a donation. However, I noticed
> that
> >> you currently do not accept Bitcoin, Lightning, or Monero.
> >>
> >> Privacy is very important to me, as it is to many other open-source
> users
> >> and advocates. Supporting privacy-respecting donation methods like
> Bitcoin
> >> and Monero would likely encourage more people to contribute. These
> options
> >> also operate independently of banks and intermediaries, which aligns
> with
> >> the values of a freer and more open world.
> >>
> >> Would you consider adding the option to donate via Bitcoin (on-chain and
> >> maybe even Lightning) or Monero? If you need any assistance implementing
> >> this, I would be happy to help.
> >>
> >> The easiest way to get started is by downloading Cake Wallet, which is
> >> open-source, non-custodial, and supports both Bitcoin and Monero (as
> well
> >> as other cryptocurrencies). You could then simply display the wallet
> >> address on your website for donations.
> >>
> >> Thank you for your work and for considering this suggestion. Please let
> me
> >> know if you have any questions or if I can assist in any way.
> >>
> >> Best regards!
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> gnucash-user mailing list
> >> gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> >> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
> >> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> >> -----
> >> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> >> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
> >>
> >
> --
> --
> James Thorpe
> 061 476 2775
> James at fusionsystems.co.za
> _______________________________________________
> gnucash-user mailing list
> gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
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> -----
> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
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>

-- 
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8