Check if file is already open (on another computer)

[corgano]

I searched this problem, and found this answer, which works brilliantly

However, it does not help me because I want to check if $file is opened on ANOTHER computer

I have a bunch of pdf files on a network drive, and I'm using autoit and Acrobat to process them. I have multiple computers processing the PDF's, but sometimes they pick the same file, and they fail to save because the file is open by another program. How do I check if the file is open on another computer?

[mLipok]

What operating system shares files.

I use almost the same solution, and would rather not complain about the problem.

[jdelaney]

command = net files

Above command gives a report of all open file shares.

Use psexec to run that locally on your server, and then parse the data

Edited September 26, 2013 by jdelaney

[corgano]

umm... I'm not understanding how I'm supposed to use that? Can you give an example?

[allSystemsGo]

You could try something like this (run it where your files are located)

$file='\\localshare\openfiles.txt'
RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c " & "net files > " & $file, "", @SW_HIDE) ; this will create a txt file that shows all open files on the server

And then some code that checks file names against that list. If they are in the list, then they are open.

[jdelaney]

Unfortunately, allSystemsGo, you need to run that command on the actual server housing the files.

But yes, allSystemsGo showed what it is, it's a command prompt command.

Google PSExec, or PAExec, you will need to initiate the 'net files' command on the file share server.  You can pipe back the output to your local station (wherever the autoit script is running), and then parse it.

edit: there are plenty of examples you can search for on this forum as well.  You would still need to download the exe (it's free...well, not sure about psexec, but paexec is still freeware...I think Microsoft bought out psexec?  it's all the same thing, same params, at least, if not more in paexec)

Edited September 28, 2013 by jdelaney

[water]

I have a bunch of pdf files on a network drive, and I'm using autoit and Acrobat to process them. I have multiple computers processing the PDF's, but sometimes they pick the same file, and they fail to save because the file is open by another program. How do I check if the file is open on another computer?

So this means you run program A on many computers in parallel? All computers process the same list of PDF files?

 

If yes, I would do the following. Create a lock file for each PDF you process on the network share:

If FileExists(PDFtoBeProcessed.Lock) Then
    try next PDF
Else
   Create PDFtoBeProcessed.Lock
   Process PDFtoBeProcessed.PDF
   Delete PDFtoBeProcessed.Lock
EndIf

[jdelaney]

Another thought.  Have one application reading for the PDFs, and creating a file that your other script uses to determine which pdf to manipulate.  That way, there will be no conflicts.  Have a dir that is station specific, like the comp name, and only have the script running from that station read from it's own folder's files.

Edited September 28, 2013 by jdelaney

[allSystemsGo]

Unfortunately, allSystemsGo, you need to run that command on the actual server housing the files.

Correct, which is why I said to run in where the files are located.

[corgano]

I can't run on the computer hosting the files

By lock file, you mean just a blank, temp file, that I can check if ti exists? That could work

Is there a way to see if creating a file fails? I mean I could..

 

for file in list

    if fileexists(file&".lock") then

        next file

    else

        filewrite(file&".lock","asdf")

        <do processing crap here>

        filedelete(file&".lock")

    endif

next

I'm just afraid that I'll end up with two acrobats checking the file exists at the exact same time, and then both of them ccreating a lock file and colliding. It might be better if....

for file in list

    filewrite(file&".lock","asdf")

    if @error (file already exists) then next file

    <do processing crap here>

    filedelete(file&".lock")

    

next

[water]

By lock file, you mean just a blank, temp file, that I can check if ti exists? That could work

Is there a way to see if creating a file fails? I mean I could..

 

I'm just afraid that I'll end up with two acrobats checking the file exists at the exact same time, and then both of them ccreating a lock file and colliding. It might be better if....

A lock file is just a file. Content doesn't matter.

If you need to be 100% sure that a file isn't being processed by another computer do the check twice with a random wait time between.

Check if the lock file exists
Sleep(Random(10, 2000)) ; sleep up to 2 seconds
Check if the lock file exists

If both checks are successfull then create the lock file.

[orbs]

the content of the lock file can be quite useful: you can have it indicate the hostname that locked it, or the time it was locked, so if the hostname is dead or too much time passed, another process can unlock it... but the general idea is well explained.

[corgano]

Awesome, I think I have an idea of what to do. I'll post back