Can QB '07 data file "Read Only" attribute be turned off?

Question

Is there a way to configure QB '07 to NOT set the Read Only attribute on the data file upon exiting the application?

My mom is at best a novice PC user. Several years ago, I set my parents' business up on QB '01. They've been running it on two, stand alone Win 98 desktops. She alternates between two desktops (one at their office & another at their home).

Since she alternated between two PCs that were in different geographic locations, I set up the main data file on a 100 MB zip drive & configured a Windows Briefcase on each PC that kept the main data file backed up.

Before you criticize, please re-read my 2nd paragraph where I said my mom is a novice PC user. She has no desire to learn the complexities of Windows operating systems.

So, I had to give her something simple that would ensure backups, not require much knowledge of PCs, & allow her to have the most recent file in her possession so she wouldn't have to worry about which PC she was working from. I really don't want to use QB's backup process. It might work for you, but you've probably got better PC skills than she does.

On her old PCs, I gave her a procedure to insert the zip drive, synchronize the Briefcase, work in QB (off of the zip drive), shut down QB, synchronize the Briefcase, then eject the zip drive. That way, she always had at least one backup of current data & always had the most recent data in her posession.

It worked beautifully. She understood the purpose of the Briefcase sync, it was quick, & she did the exact same thing every time, regardless of which PC she was using.

My parents recently upgraded to Vista & were forced to upgrade to QB '07 (yes, I know, BIG changes). I also upgraded her to a 2 GB flash drive. Then I tried to duplicate the whole Briefcase setup on the new PCs.

Here's the catch. Intuit seems to have done a nasty little thing of making the data file (& another file - maybe an index) "Read Only" when it exits.

When I try to sync the Briefcase, it fails because the destination file (i.e. the backup on the hard drive) is Read Only & Briefcase won't copy over it.

I tried poking around in QB help and I've taken a look at Sync Center & offline files, but they aren't really intended, yet, for flash drives.

Is there a way to configure QB to not flag the file as Read Only?

If not, bearing in mind it has to be SIMPLE & efficient to move between two PCs, anyone got any other ideas?

Laura · Accepted Answer

How much DOS do you remember? I seem to recall that there are some DOS commands that allow you to change the attributes of a file. I wonder if creating a little bat file for your mom to execute before copying the files to the flash drive would work??

Just out of curiosity, what problems is she running into with the file attributes set to read only? I can copy my company file to a flash drive and open it on another computer without any problems. If I don't use the back up process, I just have to remember to copy the *.qbw, *.nd and *.TLG file to the flash drive. BTW, its the TLG file that is also set as read only.

Personally, I would think it would easier to teach your parents about the QB backup process. Verifying your file periodically CAN be a good thing.

RebelGraffiti · Answer

Why not leave the flash drive plugged in and set QB to automatically bakcup to that location upon exit?

Bartt Shelton · Answer

I appreciate the suggestion, but...In that configuration, each PC would be configured to use a data filefrom its own hard drive.When she went to the other PC, she'd have to "restore" the backed updata file from the flash drive to the hard drive, then open the file.I ruled that option out almost from the get-go.  It's been a long timesince I set it up, but I think it added several steps & forced her toremember where in the folder structure the data file resides.  & inthe event that she ever restored it to the wrong place....Part of the issue is that they're 500 mi. away.I want something simple & pretty much bullet proof.  Briefcase can bedangerous, but in this case, it worked like a champ.  Just trying toget it working on the Vista PCs.

Bartt Shelton · Answer

quoted text -This is a possibility.  You're thinking of the ATTRIB -R command w/ abundled XCOPY.If it's possible, though, I'd prefer to stick w/ standard Windowsfunctionality.Briefcase is a little more transparent than an executable thatprobably flashes some cryptic text in a window & won't give you anyindicator of what might be wrong if it fails.

Bartt Shelton · Answer

quoted text -Sorry, forgot to answer your questions.You said you copied the file to flash w/ no problem.  Did you copy thefile to the flash drive using QB file management, or with WindowsExporer?  In my case, the 1st copy works great.  It's subsequentcopies that fail.  Briefcase sees the destination as a "Read Only"file & won't copy over it.I save file verification type stuff for me to do when I go back.The further away I get from the process I defined, the more phonecalls I get when the screen doesn't look like it did the last time.

Laura · Answer

I was using Windows explorer to do the copy function.Where is the Briefcase function hiding in XP? I remember it from win98 but have never located it using XP.

Bartt Shelton · Answer

Create a new folder of type Briefcase.  Win Expl. -> File -> New ->BriefcaseWere you able to do subsequent copies in Win Expl, or just the one?

Laura · Answer

I'll experiment with the briefcase type of folder. I'm wondering if that is part of the problem.I was able to copy the files multiple times.

Can QB '07 data file "Read Only" attribute be turned off?

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