MainBoss Basic database file marked as a protected operating system file

Problem: When editing, closing, or printing a work orders, you receive an error message of the form:

duplicate instance found error opening file
Status -69 80156
C:\MainBoss\Access.dbf

After clicking OK to this message, you can continue to use the program. However, if you try to reindex the MainBoss database, you get the following error:

Creating file
Status 20 90058
C:\MainBoss\Access.dbf
access is denied

Since the reindexing operation was interrupted by the error message, MainBoss becomes unusable until a successful reindex can be done.

Cause: The access.dbf file may have had its file attributes (properties) changed to a read-only, hidden system file. MainBoss cannot locate the file under these conditions.

Solution: You should temporarily change your windows preferences to be able to view protected operating system files. This can be done as follows (on a Windows 2000 machine):

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Click on Tools->Folder Options
3. Click on the View tab and remove the checkmark from the settings option called: Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).

After closing Windows Explorer and opening it again, you can now see the access.dbf file in the folder. To change the file's properties back from being an operating system file, follow these steps (Note: substitute the actual location of your MainBoss database for C:\MainBoss):

1. Open a Command Prompt (Start->Programs->Accessories->Command Prompt)
2. Type:

   cd c:\MainBoss

   and press enter
3. Type:

   attrib access.*

   and press enter
4. Type:

   attrib -h -s -r access.*

   and press enter
5. Close the command prompt

Now you can go back to Windows Explorer and change your folder options by check marking: Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) under Tools->Folder Options. The access.dbf and access.cdx files should now be visible. Return to MainBoss and complete the Reindex operation (if necessary) and test the database by trying to edit or close a work order. If you do not get an error message, you have successfully fixed the attributes of the access files. If you get the same error message but for a different file, you need to repeat the above steps for that file.

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