Trying to Save - Read Only Error

[Jennifer Cali]

Hello,
I have a project that I've been trying to save (as same version)
unsuccessfully. Every time I make edits, and click "Save", I get a message
saying that the file I'm working on is Read Only (when it's not) and that I
need to save it as a new version. Needless to say, I'm up to version six
billion and one. Any thoughts on why it's doing this would be greatly
appreciated - haven't experienced this problem before.

 

[Jennifer Cali]

Wanted to add more detail. When I save the next sequential version, it wipes
out all the data from the version I'm currently working on. SO - if I update
version 2 and try to save, I get a READ ONLY error. I save it as Version 3,
and it saves successfully as Version 3. Then, if I try to open up Version 2
all data is gone.

Strange.

 

[John]

Wanted to add more detail. When I save the next sequential version, it wipes
out all the data from the version I'm currently working on. SO - if I update
version 2 and try to save, I get a READ ONLY error. I save it as Version 3,
and it saves successfully as Version 3. Then, if I try to open up Version 2
all data is gone.

Strange.

Jennifer,
Here are a few things that can cause a file to be read only.

1. If the file is on a common server and somebody else happens to have
it open, you will only be able to open it read only. Keep in mind, the
other user may never have closed it (knowingly or unknowingly).

2. If the file is linked to another file (e.g. resource pool file),
similar to item 1, your file may be read only'

3. The file is corrupt. This can occur for various reasons. You might
try going to our MVP website at, http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm,
and taking a look at FAQ 43 - Handling project file corruption and/or
bloat.

Just as an aside, with Project I never use a "straight" save. I always
use "Save As" either with the same name or a new name. It helps keep the
file from bloating and wards off corruption. However, this approach is
not quite as simple if the file is linked to other files. In that case
more care is required.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Jennifer Cali]

Thanks, John. I copied and pasted tasks from one project into the current
one, so I'm thinking it might have "linked" the two together. Is there a way
to check to see if there are other projects linked to the current one? As
follow-up, is there a way to remove that link? I really appreciate your help.

 

[John]

Thanks, John. I copied and pasted tasks from one project into the current
one, so I'm thinking it might have "linked" the two together. Is there a way
to check to see if there are other projects linked to the current one? As
follow-up, is there a way to remove that link? I really appreciate your help.

Jennifer,
Simple copy and paste by itself will not create links. However, if the
tasks you copied already had links, (maybe you're using a common
resource pool?), then those links would get duplicated.

As far a checking for links, there are various kinds of links. If you
created any hammock tasks, then you used paste links. To check for paste
links, go to Edit/Links. If the "Links" menu item is NOT grayed out,
then the file contains paste links. You should be able to open the Links
window, select the link(s) and hit the "Break Link" button. If you do
that, be sure to use Save As with both files to insure there are no
remaining link fragments - they cause corruption.

You can check for a resource pool link connection by going to
Tools/Share Resources. If there is an entry in the "From" selection box,
then that file is part of the resource sharing. If you want to break the
link with the pool, first make sure the subject file has resources of
its own and that the Share Resources window is set to "Use own
resources". Then open the resource pool file and select Tools/Share
Resources. Find the subject file in the list and use the "Break Link"
button. Again, use Save As on both the subject file and the resource
pool file.

You can check for master/subproject file links by displaying the
Subproject File field. If there are any entries in that field (it will
be on a summary line), select that link and go to Project/Task
Information/Advanced tab. Uncheck the "Link to Project" box and hit
"OK". Again use Save As on both the subject file and the file it was
linked to.

And finally, there are external predecessor/successor links. You can
check for those by examining the Predecessor and Successor fields. If
there are any links with a path name, then that task has a link to a
task in another file. Delete the predecessor and/or successor that is
external. Once again, be sure to save both files using Save As.

You have to be careful when you copy and paste tasks from one file to
another. There may be better ways to do it. One way is to create a
static master. To do that go to Insert/Project and select the files you
want to combine in whole or in part. Be sure to uncheck the "Link to
Project" box in the lower right corner of the Insert Project window.
Once you have the combined file, judiciously delete tasks you do not
want.

Hope all this helps.
John
Project MVP