[GNC] GnuCash 5.11 FlatPak on Linux Mint 21: Software doesn't respect read-only gnucash file
R Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Fri Jun 13 14:06:12 EDT 2025
It does rather surprise me that there is no open read-only option in
GnuCash (especially as it offers to do so when the LCK file is present).
Such an option could be very useful for people who make a backup copy of
their data file at the end of their fiscal year.
On Fri, Jun 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM Michael or Penny Novack via gnucash-user <
gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
> 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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--
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8
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