.$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

[rtbtat]

Hey Guys,

I've been using Alpha Four/Five since 1990 when Steve Workings and I started with the DOS version. Today I'm encountering one of the most bizarre problems ever. So after a very long absence, I'm returning to the Alpha Message Board.

I created a new application that was working fine, however, problems arose as Alpha kept saying it couldn't find the MEMO field. Of course it couldn't because there weren't any. As usual, I thought that error message was a result of something stupid I did, so I deleted the entire application [a very simple flat file app] and created a brand new one in a different folder.

Guess what? The same thing happened, I have trouble opening tables, forms, and/or reports because Alpha cannot find the memo field that never existed.

In addition, when I try to format fields in a report, I receive an error message ["Error Running Script"]. I'm sure there are other problems I haven't discovered yet. I noticed that a .$$M file with the name of the application is being created in every new application I create. I also played with an old application and now it too has that dreaded .$$M file. If memory serves me correct, that has something to do with temporary files.

I already had the latest patch for version 9 [I don't think there's been a new one for months], but just to make sure, I downloaded the latest patch and installed it. Nothing changed.

I also ran Kaspersky to see if there is a virus affecting A5 but the scan came back negative.

This is truly bizarre but I'm hoping someone else had a similar problem and you may be able to point me in the right direction.

[CALocklin]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Assuming you are dealing with a desktop app, see this thread - http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...ad.php?t=75153

[MikeC]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Cal,
Your $$ delete script is great for the temporary files (files STARTING with $$ prior to the extension), but I don't think it does anything for the $$ that occur IN the extension...which to me is actually the indication of corruption in the .DDM file. The .$$M IS the .DDM file as far as I can determine and deleting it has never helped me---I have always had to resort to a backup to replace it in order for the form/etc to work again.

[CALocklin]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Sorry, guess I was just focused on the "$$".

I found one such ".$$M" file in my data. The file was from 2006 and all other files are there - at least they are now. As Mike said, the file appears to be a memo file. (The .ddm file is also actually a memo file - it just has a different extension for use with the data dictionary rather than the actual data.) It might be a copy of the .fpt file at the time the .$$M file was created since the memo fields in my particular table are all blank. Both files are 512 bytes and both look exactly the same in a hex editor. Or - and I would tend to go with Mike on this one - it may be a blank version of the .ddm file. The .DDM file in my application is about 5 meg. but that doesn't mean that the .$$M file wasn't somehow created as a blank .DDM file. It's very possible that I restored the file or rebuild the layouts, etc. that are attached to that table.

Not sure if this helps solve your problem but at least you know a little more about what the $$M file is.

I wonder if the $$M file is always created as a blank file? If so and the .ddm file disappears when it's created, restoring from a backup would be the only way to recover.

If you don't have a backup and need to rebuild your layouts for that table, I think I'd feel safer deleting all existing .dd* files for that table (and the $$M file) and starting over from scratch. If you delete those files using Windows Explorer, A5 will recreate them - blank of course - the first time you open the table.

You could try just changing the $$M extension to DDM but I'm not sure exactly what will happen. You might be lucky and recover a few things but, if the $$M file is empty, I guarantee it won't be much and the risk of creating other issues probably isn't worth it.

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Cal, I think Mike C was right, this had nothing to do with your temporary files script. I've been using A5 since version one and I've had my fair share of minor problems over the years, most of them were caused by poor database design on my part . However, I came to the conclusion that the .$$M issue indicated my A5 program was corrupt. The problems were not unique to any individual application, they occurred in 3 different new apps which were created in 3 different folders, none of which had any memo files.

Maybe this happened when I upgraded from VISTA to Win 7 eight weeks ago? Unlike the upgrade from XP to VISTA, Win 7 does not force you to reinstall the program application from scratch. This was the first NEW app I tried to create since that Win 7 upgrade in late October.

It appears as if the .$$M file would be created after I compacted the database, which is something I always do after designing new tables, forms, or reports. The .$$M file would be created for the database name, individual table, and/or the .DDM file. Once that happened, I could not open forms, reports, and/or the individual table. I would instead receive an error message stating Alpha could not find the MEMO file. Of course there never was a Memo file.

In the end I decided to uninstall A5, restart the computer, install A5, and then download the latest patch. That made a vast improvement, but it did not completely eliminate the .$$M problem that occurred once since then. However, now I can change the properties of objects in forms and reports without receiving a "script error" message. So guys, I'm holding my breath and hoping this corruption issue doesn't come back.

[aRob]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

There was a post about Kaspersky 2010 corrupting DDM files on Windows 7. Search for "Kaspersky" and you should see it. It was called 'Windows7 adb compact'.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

Michael, yes - all tables and layouts are closed.

On my desktop pc with Vista Business - is everything running ok.

I bought the laptop - with Win 7 64 bit - but got the error - then reloaded win 7 32 bit - still same error (thought the 64 -32 bit would have a difference)...

Then I though if I create a brand new app in version 10 on win 7 - would it fix the problem - but no luck either.

Then running the app, would it gradually corrupt all the *.dd* files, so when you want to open a form then, do you get the error - form does not exists-.

Any ideas?
Regards
Walter

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

aRob thanks, I found the thread and posted a question to Walter. He said Kaspersky 2010, which is what I'm using, caused his A5 Database Compact problem, however, he didn't provide any specifics. I asked him to give me details as to why he thought it was Kaspersky.

[MikeC]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Robert,
I had used Kaspersky for almost a year as it came with the PC I purchased. After I tweaked it as much as I could figure out, it still caused quite a bit of sluggishness especially when Alpha was working. I wonder if this could be causing timing issues within Alpha which in turn makes certain things not completed thus corrupting....just a thought.

BTW--since going back to the free version of Avast Antivirus, I have had no slow downs (have used it for years now).

A way to check it out then would be to disable Kaspersky---install and use Avast temporarily if necessary then.

[aRob]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

I have used Kaspersky on XP for over a year and have never had any problems. Performance is better than with Norton or Trend Micro products.

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

MikeC:

Interesting idea but I'm not ready for it, in fact, I would be somewhat nervous about giving that a try. One of the cardinal rules is never having two anti-virus applications on the same system. I understand you would disable one while running the other, but that makes me very uncomfortable since both of them are installed in the registry and it may cause more problems than it's worth.

By the way, Kaspersky is rated very high but I've heard really good things about that free application you mentioned, Avast.

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

I guess uninstalling and reinstalling Alpha Five did not resolve my problem. I held my breath, compacted a database, and the dreaded .$$M file reappeared with the name of the database. Now I can't open any forms or reports because Alpha cannot find the memo file that never existed.

This is truly bizarre and I'm trying to figure out if as Walter stated, Kaspersky 2010 is the culprit. I don't understand why my anti-virus application would cause a problem when compacting a database, but right now I don't have any other clues or explanations.

[CALocklin]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

I'm really curious exactly what files you ended up with. Specifically...

Are all the .ddm files still there? If so, are they larger than 1 Kb? (Actually, 512 Bytes is a blank .ddm file - anything larger has something in it.)

There will definitely be a problem if you find any <filename>.ddd files that don't have a matching <filename>.ddm file. (There should also be a <filename>.ddx file but that doesn't seem to be the issue.)

This same thing applies to .sem files - every .set file should have a matching .sem and .sex file. (And, no, your users should not delete all the "sex" files from their system like one of mine did!:))

Also, if more than one .ddm file is missing, is there only one .$$M file or is there one .$$M file for every missing .ddm file?

[Al Buchholz]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

. I don't understand why my anti-virus application would cause a problem when compacting a database, but right now I don't have any other clues or explanations.

the anti-virus can be scanning the file while alpha wants it open exclusively.

Is there a setting for file types to exclude or include for the anti-virus?

Have you turned off your anti-virus and tried the compacting?

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Great questions Cal and now I'm sorry I deleted all of the folders where I had this problem, most of which had more than one .$$M file. I tried to re-create it in a new, small database that I just started working on. After the 3rd compact, the .$$M file showed up.

1. This time the .$$M file did not replace the database name file, which was typical on previous occasions. This time the .$$M showed up in the individual table.

2. There is no .DDM file, the .$$M apparently replaced it.

3. The .$$M file is 122 kb in a very small table with only 5 records.

I'm going to keep playing around, but at this point in time, I can't answer your other question because there's only one table. But as you can imagine, I cannot open my form or report. With the report Alpha states it cannot find the memo file. And with the custom form, it opens the default form.

I hope the above answered your questions.

[rtbtat]

Re: .$$M Files Creating A5 Chaos!

Al, that reference to A5 wanting exclusive control over the file may be the answer.

I checked Kaspersky's help file and there wasn't any reference to excluding files.There must be a way to exclude certain types of files but they don't make it easy or obvious. I'm going to post a question on the Kaspersky user forum.

As for turning off Kaspersky, I would try that except that the .$$M file problem doesn't happen every time I compact a database. It's more of a random event. I know the problem occurs after a compact, but it doesn't happen every single time. If that was the case, turning off Kaspersky would definitely answer the question.

I also get very nervous when I turn off my anti-virus protection, even for a brief time, so that's a difficult option for me. Anyway, as mentioned above, I'm going to see if the Kaspersky forum has any ideas or suggestions.