I am using FMP6 on both Mac (x, 10.3.9) and Windows (2KPro) to import data from an external csv file. The file is open for update permanently by an external application.

The Mac version of FMP6 has no trouble in opening the file 'read-only' and retrieving records. The Win version reports that the file is in use or locked.

The Win problem does not appear to be machine or net user permissions; for example, WinWord can open the same file without difficulty, simply advising that it is read-only, which is to be expected.

I have tested from the Mac by copying the target file to both Mac and PC, then trying to get FM to open it under varying conditions of file use/status. The Mac version consistently opens the file and gets the data whereas the Win version will not if the file is open in another application.

I cannot see any settings inside FMP (Win) that would overcome this problem.

Can anyone help. Would FM7 be any better?

Thanks

This appears to be an OS problem. There is no FileMaker setting for this

It also appears to depend on the external application. If I open a text file in Wordpad on Windows 2000 Pro, I can still import the text into FM6v4

Thanks.

I have not found a direct way round, but have made a cmd file to copy source to another name, works fine.