Lister crashes TC trying to open in-use (locked) files

[Alexander B]

TC 7.5pb1, Windows XP SP3.
In previous TC versions Lister refused to show in-use files locked for reading & writing (e.g. MS Outlook .pst file while Outlook is running).
7.5 pb1, however, pretends to open such files, but shows nothing in Lister window (absolutely blank Lister window appears). If I try to scroll down this Lister window, TC crashes immediately without even an error message (just disappears).

[karlchen]

Hello, Alexander B.

I can reproduce the problem and the crash which you report:
+ Total Commander v7.50 Public Beta 1
+ Windows XP Prof SP2, 32bit
+ Outlook backup file: archive.pst

The crash does not necessarily occur immediately when I start scrolling through the locked archive.pst file. But it will definitely occur after moving down and up again inside the file. - Seems that only the first block of archive.pst is locked. - Lister can display most of the file. But moving to and fro inside the archive.pst will definitely quickly make Lister and Total Commander disappear from the process list.

The same does not happen if I use Total Commander v7.04a. I can jump around inside the file at will. Only the first block of x KB cannot be displayed and the lister window will be empty.

Kind regards,
Karl

[ghisler(Author)]

I cannot reproduce this because I don't use Outlook. Any other files causing this problem?

[fenix_productions]

I've just tried with Miranda IM* and can't reproduce.

*)I know for sure it is locking its db file because I can't even copy it without message and l Lister just gives "Access denied on file".

[ghisler(Author)]

Outlook seems to lock only certain parts of the file, not the entrire file like most other programs. Does anyone know a free program which does the same?

[fenix_productions]

2ghisler(Author)
Maybe this will help:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365203.aspx

IMHO it should be easy for you to write small tool for it

BTW Just guessing here…

[ghisler(Author)]

Hmm, could be done, but I still don't know how I need to lock the file to cause the error, e.g. only small part (and which), or entire file...

[DrShark]

2ghisler(Author)
Can you install Microsoft Office Standard 60-day trial? It has MS Outlook...

[ghisler(Author)]

I could confirm it now with some custom code, thanks.

[karlchen]

Hello, Christian.

Tried to view the same Outlook archive.pst file as at the beginning of this thread.

As soon as F3 (open lister) has been pressed on the archive.pst file, T.C. displays an error message telling "Fehler beim Lesen! - archive.pst" ("Error reading file! - archive.pst").

If OK is selected, an empty lister window is opened. It simply contains no data at all. No vertical scroll bar. Going to 5%, 10%, 20%, ... 95%, no data will be displayed. All you can do is close lister.

Yet, I can confirm, T.C. does not crash on this file.

<Added>
New problem: Having performed the archive.pst test explained above a few times, lister will not be launched any longer at all. Pressing F3 on any file does not have any effect at all. Nothing happens.

The problem with T.C. 7.50pb2 seems to be this: The error message can be made to vanish behind other windows so that you do not see it any longer. Doing so (by accident) seems to prevent lister from being launched once more.
</Added>

+ Total Commander 7.50 PB2
+ Windows XP Prof SP2, 32bit, ger

Kind regards,
Karl

[ghisler(Author)]

Thanks for confirming the fix! Lister sets the file size to 0 internally to avoid any further crashes.

Indeed you need to close the dialog to continue to use TC normally. This cannot be prevented, sorry.

[Boofo]

Wouldn't an error message when that happens help explain what is going on?

[ghisler(Author)]

It does display an error message...

[Boofo]

Oops! Sorry about that. I haven't run into anything like that yet.