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Intermittent Startup Error

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    Intermittent Startup Error

    One of my clients is having intermittent trouble with the application getting a startup error: "Error Loading C:\USERS\MYNAME\APPDATA\ROAMING\ALPHASOFTWARE VERSION 12\psc_control_file.DBF: the system cannot find the file specified." Basically, it's looking for the startup form in the wrong place, using this local path instead of the network path. When we restore from backup the .adb, .alx, .alb, and .alm files as suggested in another thread, it takes care of the problem for a little while, but it keeps cropping up again, sometimes multiple times a day, to the frustration of the users.

    This is on a network with several users, but none of them are shadowed.

    Any ideas?

    Nathan
    Last edited by Nathan Zeiset; 09-13-2016, 11:20 AM.

    #2
    Re: Intermittent Startup Error

    What is the code that calls the form? Or are you using the startup form in the database properties?

    Have you identified some thing that runs and then causes the issue at next startup?

    What does the control panel tables/sets detail view show for that table when it works? and then when it does not work?

    Can you make a small sample that shows the problem?

    Sometimes I find making the sample focuses on the problem and allows me to id and solve it.
    Al Buchholz
    Bookwood Systems, LTD
    Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

    Occam's Razor - KISS
    Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
    Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
    When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
    "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
    Albert Einstein

    http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Intermittent Startup Error

      We are using the startup form in the database properties.

      So far we have not been able to identify anything that runs and causes the issue at next startup.

      When it works, the control panel detail view shows the path for that table as a:\pscwf12\psc_control_file.dbf, which is the correct network path. At this point I don't know for sure what it shows when it doesn't work, but I'll try to take a look the next time it throws the error.

      I don't think it would be practical to make a small sample of the database, since it is large and complex, and the error is intermittent, so I don't know how to reproduce it.

      Nathan

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Intermittent Startup Error

        I wonder if the issue is due to the network connection being lost and Alpha looking in the next likeliest place? Next time it happens you might have them see if they can access the Alpha network directory. If it is only a momentary network dropout then that might not help. Could be worthwhile having their network checked out.
        There can be only one.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Intermittent Startup Error

          I think it's highly unlikely that the network connection is being lost. It is a wired Ethernet connection with a gigabit switch. The users are able to browse to the alpha directory when the error is going on. Also, the database is password protected, and the password prompt comes up when the users try to open Alpha, which would indicate it found the database.

          Nathan

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Intermittent Startup Error

            When it works, the control panel detail view shows the path for that table as a:\pscwf12\psc_control_file.db
            was a: not alway6s designated for a floppy drive in older windows?

            Might try mapping a drive using L, M or something.

            The other way is \\myserver\apppath\something.adb instead of using a mapped drive at all.
            actually using this for one of mine: \\GS-APP01\globeempty\amgs.Adb

            You also notice there are no spaces in anything, not that it is all your cause.
            Dave Mason
            [email protected]
            Skype is dave.mason46

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Intermittent Startup Error

              Thanks for your input, Dave. I think too that using drive A: is unusual, but I doubt that is creating the problem. However, your other suggestion is intriguing. How would you avoid using the mapped drive? Are you suggesting that we change the shortcut to the application to use the server path rather than the path that uses the mapped drive?

              Nathan

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                Are you suggesting that we change the shortcut to the application to use the server path rather than the path that uses the mapped drive?
                Yes

                " \\GS-APP01\globeempty\amgs.Adb" is an actual connection here. Similar in most of the applications I ship that have Shadowed table.

                It is worth the try.

                To further clarify. MY clients are not allowed to have spaces in anything inside the apps or in the paths. I mean NONE
                Last edited by DaveM; 09-15-2016, 01:43 PM.
                Dave Mason
                [email protected]
                Skype is dave.mason46

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                  This issue has just reoccurred for my client, and I was able to get a couple more answers to your questions.

                  1. I bypassed the startup form, and found that the control panel was empty except for the Code tab, which had all of the scripts there, and the Operations tab, which had only the Import operations listed. I checked the size of the .adb file, and found it was very small, maybe 5KB. When I restored the .adb file from backup, it was 105KB. Somehow it's getting zapped, or something.

                  2. I tried accessing the database directly instead of using a mapped drive, as DaveM suggested, but the same error occurred. Obviously, it's not the path, but the .adb file itself that's the problem.

                  3. I don't know if this has anything to do with this problem, but there is something unusual about this database. When the database is functioning normally, under the code tab each script is listed four or five times, each with a different path, but each is actually the same script. Currently the paths are a:\pscwf12\pscwf.alb, a:\pscwf12\\pscwf.alb, a:\\pscwf.alb, and \\pscwfdc1\data\shared files\pscwf_alpha5db\pscwf12\\pscwf.alb. When I check the Libraries tab under the Workspace Properties, pscwf.alb is listed four times, each showing its respective path. I have tried deleting all of the libraries except for the one with the path a:\pscwf12\pscwf.alb (since this is the path that appears in Windows Explorer), but eventually the others get added back to the list of libraries. Interestingly enough, when I checked the Code tab during the time the error was occurring, only one instance of the scripts was showing (a:\pscwf12\pscwf.alb). Could this somehow be related to the error?

                  Nathan

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                    I've seen this happen on an overloaded server with Alpha in a client server mode.

                    Using RDP or an alternate can minimize (or eliminate) the issue.

                    You should also keep a current copy of the database structure files with the table/set support files to rebuild on demand.

                    Do you have any indexing issues with this system? Ie corrupted indices?

                    Memo fields? Any issues with those?

                    As Stan stated, network drops are a primary concern. Can be a faulty network card in a PC, switch port, router port, bad connector, cable.....

                    Narrowing it down may take adding some log files to your system to note activities and machines when an issue is noticed.

                    Never easy or fun.
                    Al Buchholz
                    Bookwood Systems, LTD
                    Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

                    Occam's Razor - KISS
                    Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
                    Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
                    When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
                    "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                    Albert Einstein

                    http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                      Nathan,

                      Is the customer running the database on a NAS device?

                      -- tom

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                        Al: I'm not aware of any indexing issues, or problems with the memo fields, at least not on a regular basis.

                        Tom: No, the database is running on a server using Windows Server 2008 R2.

                        -Nathan

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                          This error occurred again this morning. While I can fairly quickly retrieve the .adb file from backup and restore it, all users have to wait while that's done, which is frustrating to them. I really need to get to the bottom of this.

                          The only route I know to pursue is Al's suggestion of adding log files to the system to note activities and machines in use when the problem occurs. However, I feel at a loss to know where to begin. Any tips or suggestions?

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                            Check the versions for the RT and Dev.
                            They must be the same release.
                            That's why any new Dev release needs to be used to recreate the RT you have deployed else changes will cause issues.
                            Either that, or stick with a favourite release.
                            See our Hybrid Option here;
                            https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                            Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                            You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Intermittent Startup Error

                              Nathan,

                              I'm puzzled why you say "the correct network path" is to the A: drive. Is the database running on a floppy disk?

                              Does the "A: drive" you see refer to the A: drive on the user's workstation, or the A: drive on a server machine on your network?

                              Is this a new database?

                              Is this one that has been recently moved to a new directory?

                              Please take a few minutes to describe:

                              - Your network setup - describe in detail
                              - Are any users connecting to the network remotely? Describe how this occurs.
                              - The location of the database files on the machine acting as server
                              - The location where the runtime or developer program files are stored. i.e. the physical path on a typical workstation
                              - The windows explorer "Path" to the actual database files on the machine acting as server, as seen from a typical workstation

                              Spare no details

                              --tom

                              Comment

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