[GNC] GnuCash 5.11 FlatPak on Linux Mint 21: Software doesn't respect read-only gnucash file
Michael or Penny Novack
stepbystepfarm at comcast.net
Fri Jun 13 11:40:01 EDT 2025
Just so you realize ..... you are defeating the purpose of the "lock
file" (in general)
Now this may be OK in your special case of being the only user on your
computer (even though your OS allows multiple"users" (note that user is
from the computer's point of view; you as a single human COULD be
multiple users*). Just be careful to avoid this. By disabling the
computer's ability to detect multiple users going after the resource, it
becomes your responsibility.
Michael D Novack
* For example, assuming your as regular user do not have administrator
rights, when installing updates you might get prompted for your
administrator password. What might actually be happening is the computer
logging you in as administrator, doing the update, then logging out.
During that time period had two users logged in.
On 6/13/2025 2:12 AM, James Thorpe wrote:
> Thank you, R Losey, your explanation allowed me to solve my problem!
>
> To clarify the problem for others - I was trying to create a read-only
> copy of a gnucash file so that I could open it to draw reports and get
> figures without inadvertently making changes... which happen rather
> easily in gnucash.
>
> Here's how I solved it (in Linux, at least... similar process from
> windows except using the GUI I suppose).
>
> I created the lock file manually
>
> touch Household_2024_2025.gnucash.LCK
>
> Set the lock file to read-only
>
> chmod a-w Household_2024_2025.gnucash.LCK
>
> Thereafter, any time I opened the main file (Household_2024_2025),
> gnucash would prompt me to open read-only... which is exactly what I
> wanted. Also, when closing, gnucash is unable to delete the lock file
> so the file remains protected.
>
> This works on a network file share as well so when I open from gnucash
> on windows the same process happens.
>
> On 2025/06/12 17:59, R Losey wrote:
>> 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 If you want an archived version, I would copy the appropriate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 <mailto:To%3Agnucash-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 <mailto:Cc%3Agnucash-user at gnucash.org>
>> > Subject: Re: [GNC] Suggestion to Accept Bitcoin/Lightning/Monero
>> > Donations
>> > Message-ID:
>> >
>> <CADYgSbm5FWEK+1vpWTi_XaFfvZ+mGfOAYS9cr8RMj4qBCk5hjQ at mail.gmail.com
>> <mailto:CADYgSbm5FWEK%2B1vpWTi_XaFfvZ%2BmGfOAYS9cr8RMj4qBCk5hjQ 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:
>> 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.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> _________________________________
>> Richard Losey
>> rlosey at gmail.com
>> Micah 6:8
>
--
There is no possibility of social justice on a dead planet except the equality of the grave.
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