cannot open file with write access but can create file

[trailwalker]

Hello all. I have the following lines in a script to save data to a text file. If the file does not exist, the file is created successfully. Also, if the file exists, another function using the same FileOpen but with "0" mode for read only successfully retrieves the data from the file.

However, if the file already exists, and the overwrite mode is specified, it errors out. In desperation, I also tried using FileDelete first to remove it and then create it again and this also receives an error.

$file_msg = FileOpen($bfile, 2)
If $file_msg = -1 Then
    MsgBox(16, "Error 106", "We could not save the file to this location.")
    Return 0
Else
    $write = FileWrite($file_msg, $data_to_write)
    If $write = 0 Then
        MsgBox(16, "Error 107", "We could not save the data to the file selected.")
    EndIf
            
    ; close the file
    FileClose($file_msg)
EndIf

I have also tried using the WinAPI_CreateFile, etc and got the same error. Also moved the file being overwritten to the shared docs on the computer and it still wouldn't overwrite. Im on XP SP3 and cannot for the life of me figure this one out!

Again, keep in mind that when the same code is run and the file doesn't exist yet, it is created with the data specified above.

Thanks!

Aaron

[Jos]

You checked what access you have to this file ones creates and do have Delete rights??

[jchd]

There must be something wrong with your filename or elsewhere, since the following works in all cases (file already exists or not):

Local $file_msg = FileOpen(@ScriptDir & '\test.txt', 2)
If $file_msg = -1 Then
    MsgBox(16, "Error 106", "We could not save the file to this location.")
    Return 0
Else
    $write = FileWrite($file_msg, 'this is data')
    If $write = 0 Then
    MsgBox(16, "Error 107", "We could not save the data to the file selected.")
    EndIf

    ; close the file
    FileClose($file_msg)
EndIf

Check if your filename contains a directory and if so, check if flag 8 (create directory) isn't needed in addition to 2 (overwrite mode).

[trailwalker]

There must be something wrong with your filename or elsewhere, since the following works in all cases (file already exists or not):

Thanks for the input. I have checked the variable over and over and am certain it is correct. In verifying this, I think I have an idea of what it is although not certain specifically.

This behavior only happens when I have only a few lines earlier opened (and closed) the file with the same name and read the contents. When doing this, then the overwrite errors. If I alternatively open and read one document and then overwrite a different doc, it works.

So, is there some sort of time constraint or something that needs to be done after reading a file so that it will be able to overwrite?

-Aaron

[trailwalker]

So, is there some sort of time constraint or something that needs to be done after reading a file so that it will be able to overwrite?

Found the problem, I knew it had to be something stupid. There was a mistyped variable in the previous function that opened the file and read it so it was NOT in fact closing it correctly.

Thanks!

[jchd]

No problem, we all commit horrible blemishes. I'd rather have one more in my (or your) counter than discover a fatal, difficult to workaround flaw in a tool on which I rely for mission business!