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 < [email protected]> 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 > >> <[email protected]> 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, [email protected] wrote: > >> > Send gnucash-user mailing list submissions to > >> > [email protected] > >> > > >> > 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 > >> > [email protected] > >> > > >> > You can reach the person managing the list at > >> > [email protected] > >> > > >> > 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<[email protected]> > >> > To:[email protected] <mailto:to%[email protected] > > > >> > Subject: [GNC] No longer able to access my accounting software > >> > Message-ID:<[email protected] > > > >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > >> > > >> > Jun 11, 2025 05:01:46 Vik Sha via > >> gnucash-user<[email protected]>: > >> > > >> >> 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<[email protected]> > >> > To: 83281<[email protected]> > >> > Cc:[email protected] <mailto:cc%[email protected] > > > >> > Subject: Re: [GNC] Suggestion to Accept Bitcoin/Lightning/Monero > >> > Donations > >> > Message-ID: > >> > > >> <cadygsbm5fwek+1vpwti_xaffvz+mgfoays9cr8rmj4qbck5...@mail.gmail.com > >> <mailto: > cadygsbm5fwek%2b1vpwti_xaffvz%[email protected]>> > >> > 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 < > >> > [email protected]> 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 > >> >> [email protected] > >> >> 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 > >> [email protected] > >> _______________________________________________ > >> gnucash-user mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> 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 > >> [email protected] > >> Micah 6:8 > > > > -- > There is no possibility of social justice on a dead planet except the > equality of the grave. > > _______________________________________________ > gnucash-user mailing list > [email protected] > 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 [email protected] Micah 6:8 _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] 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.
