That's why I suggested shutting down GnuCash and then renaming the files before starting it.
On Mon, Aug 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > R, > > Your instructions are thorough, but do not make clear that on Macs, > GnuCash always opens the last file it had open--even if you double click a > different GnuCash file in Finder. Or at least, that's always how it used to > work. And if the file is corrupt, then OP will have a difficult time > opening GnuCash up to find an earlier good file. That's why I suggested > opening GnuCash without a file. > > Of course, by renaming the original file, you force GnuCash to open > without the file it can no longer find, but it would be clearer to note > that it will then be necessary to File->Open the backup. > > David T. > On Aug 4, 2025, at 11:20 PM, R Losey <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I run GnuCash on my Mac as well; I have an M1 Mac running Sequoia 15.5 - >> there was a discussion here about some people having problems with 15.6 -- >> what are you running? >> >> When GnuCash starts, it first looks for a .LCK file; if one exists, you get >> the error message; otherwise, GnuCash creates the .LCK file and opens your >> data file. When you shut down GnuCash, it closes your data file, and >> deletes the .LCK. >> >> So, when GnuCash is running, there should always be a .LCK file. If GnuCash >> is shut down, there should be no .LCK file. >> >> If GnuCash crashes, it doesn't go through the normal exit process, and the >> .LCK file can stick around. The choice to "Open Anyway" is the right choice >> when you only and always use GnuCash from one computer. (I have my data >> files stored on a network storage device, and I can access it from multiple >> computers, so I have to make sure that if I get the error message that I >> really don't have it running elsewhere). >> >> From what you wrote, it sounds as if your data file has something in it >> that is causing a crash. To verify this, >> 1) Shut down GnuCash >> 2) Delete the .LCK file >> 3) Open GnuCash; you shouldn't get a warning, but Gnucash will probably go >> away (that is, "crash"). >> >> This is almost certainly an issue with your data file. So... >> 1) Delete the .LCK file >> 2) Rename your existing data file to something - perhaps >> JAW.gnucash-CORRUPT and then create a copy of the most recent backup file >> and rename it to JAW.gnucash >> 3) Open GnuCash - you should not get any warning; if GnuCash opens, you're >> good. If it crashes, delete the lock file, and try the next oldest backup >> file. Repeat this until GnuCash opens without crashing. If you get to a >> file that you KNOW was good, then there is something else going on - the >> log files may be able to help you. >> >> Best wishes! >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM Jacob Wegelin <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> I have been using gnucash for about 20 years on macos for personal >>> bookkeeping. >>> Suddenly today, it refuses to open with the following message: >>> >>> GnuCash could not obtain the lock for >>> /Users/qg/u/Household/GnuCash/wip/JAW.gnucash (which is my file which it >>> also opens). >>> >>> The database may be in use by another user, in which case you >>> should not open the database. What would you like to do? >>> >>> When I clicked "open anyway," the application looked like it was loading >>> and then it went away---the application was not open. >>> >>> I tried deleting gnucash.LCK and it just made another one. >>> >>> I reinstalled gnucash, updated my macos and rebooted the computer. >>> >>> I changed the permissions on JAW.gnucash so it is readable and >>> writeable by everybody. Exactly the same message. >>> >>> I tried reinstalling it again after the macos reboot, >>> as follows: >>> >>> https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Installation >>> >>> https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnucash/files/gnucash%20%28stable%29/ >>> click: download latest version Gnucash-Arm-5.12-1.dmg (184.3 MB) >>> >>> I made gnucash.LCK read,write,execute by everybody, but the same result. >>> >>> How do I get GnuCash working again? I use it every day. >>> >>> Thank you >>> >>> Jacob Wegelin >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> gnucash-user mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: >>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >>> ----- >>> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >>> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> >> >> >> -- _________________________________ Richard Losey [email protected] Micah 6:8 _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
