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How to share file access between two applications?

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David.P:
Hi Forum,

on two PC's on the network I run a (the same) application. That app uses a config sort of file which is updated from time to time, either from the first PC, or from the other.

That file is located on a network drive, so access from each of the two apps is no problem. However, if the file is in use by the app on one PC, the other PC can't read that file (because it's locked), let alone write to it.

What I was wondering, is there any solution to that problem? I mean, like a software that somehow simulates a file that two apps can access at the same time (...or something)?

Thanks already,

Cheers David.P

Darwin:
Hi David,

I don't have a definitive answer, BUT - backup programs like Genie Backup Manager Pro are able to access files that are in use to back them up. They do this via a plug-in that should work system-wide, I think (I'm actually out of my depth here  :o). They've used two systems:

1. Open File Manager
2. File Access Manager

Both of these "solutions" are intended to be used to allow a backup utility to backup up files that are in use, but I am wondering if they might be used to allow you to do what you're after as well...?

tomos:
could you use two different config files and synchronise them now and again ? -
could be a problem if both change between synchs - the synch programme will copy the most recent and you'll lose the less recent changes
-
is there any app that would "combine" two files?

but really,
it sound like you'd need to talk to  the app developers in order to make a proper job of it...(I think!)

f0dder:
Sounds like the application keeps the configuration file open as long as the application is running. The application could be reverse-engineered not to keep it open in exclusive mode, but allow read (or even read/write) access from other application. This isn't necessarily a good idea, though - the two app instances will likely end up clobbering eachother's changes.

David.P:
Thanks everyone for the answers!

Yep, I think the app would have to be re-engineered such that it only reads the file in memory and then leaves it alone (like e.g. notepad). Additionally, the app would have to read the file again first before actually writing to it (in case the other instance would have written to it in the meantime).

Why oh why is there no software (hardware?) solution to that problem? I think that this problem occurs very often. Well of course it could cause all kinds of trouble if used without caution.

The app is btw actually a ISDN caller identifier software, and the to-be-shared file simply is the phonebook that only changes if on either end someone adds a new telephone number entry.   

Cheers David.P

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