file in use by another

[DaveBonk]

We are using an application that is written in dbase iv
version 2.0 over a windows network (nt server and 98 work-
stations). When one person is entering a new record into
the database other users accessing different records within
the database get the "file in use by another" message. As
far as I can tell, set exclusive is set to "off", and local
share is set to "on". Is there any way around this problem?

 

[tviman]

Are you sure that you have a network version of db4 and that it is installed on the server correctly?




There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[DaveBonk]

I believe that the dbase iv is a network version. It
is installed on the server but is only run on one station. The compiled programs written with this package are simply
copied to the server's f: drive. One of these programs allows up to 9 stations to view records at one time, but starts having record lock problems if more than two people are entering new records. the other program has the aforementioned error message if one person is entering records and another is viewing records. Both programs are
written in dbase iv.

 

[tviman]

I may be mistaken but I don't think db4 was a network version. As with all of the dBase III, III+, and IV versions, if you wanted to distribute over a network, you had to purchase special network versions and pay license fees based on the number of potential users.

Although a lot of these products could be used on a network, most weren't specifically designed for it. Viewing records was, and still is, a very easy thing to do on a network with any of these products. However, writing/editiing/deleting records on a network is a whole new ballgame. Additional commands are required to prevent the problems you have now.

Of course, you'll never be able to allow more than one user to work on a record at the same time but network versions will allow multiple users to access the same FILE at the same time.

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[DaveBonk]

I do recall the boss saying that he had purchased licenses for multiple users, but since he had done so
years before I had joined the company, I don't know if
the package was one of the special network versions that
you mentioned (although it does have some commands that
deal with multiple users). How can I find out if it is
a network version?

 

[tviman]

Honestly, I don't know. It's been so long since I worked with dBase IV. I was one of the first companies that got talked into using dBase IV version 1. It was such a poor product and had soooooo many bugs that my IT department was forced to switch to another porduct. (We had spent 1000's of hours making the switch - all under the supervision of the dBase guys - and when we threw the big switch, the lights went out! Good thing, too. The dBase team could escape under cover of darkness. Literally, they left the building - and never came back!!! Cost us more money than I'll make in my life.

But I digress... surely there must be some documentation that will tell you - even if it's in the configuration files.

One thing I didn't ask - what platform are you running and have you made any recent changes or upgrades to that system?

Good luck...



There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[DaveBonk]

I will have to get back to you on the documentation. I do know that the package is dbase iv version 2.0. The platform is a windows nt 4.0 server with windows 98 second edition workstations.

 

[DClarke]

I am currently using Dbase IV Ver 2.0. It is my understanding that this software is built for networking (period). An easy way to check it, is to look for the files "ADDUSER4.EXE" or "DBASE420.ACC". We are also using the BDC (complier). The Set Exclusive command is the first thing to check and it should be in your "Config.DB". This problem will also occur for us if the file "DBASE420.ACC" is not located in the same directory as the executable.

David.