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3.121. Record is in use by another user?

When trying to use my copy of EstiMate on my peer-to-peer network I get the error ' Record is in use by another user' when someone else is using EstiMate on a client machine and visa versa.

Make sure all computers are running the same version of EstiMate. If not, upgrade all computers and try again. Upgrades can be obtained from the EstiMate website at http://www.estimatesoftware.com or by contacting the EstiMate sales desk at 888-304-3300.

If all machines are running the same version of EstiMate (1.5 or better) then the naming convention for the data path may need to be changed.

The following steps are recommended for best results:

1. From your windows desktop, right-click on the Network Neighborhood icon. Select the menu item labeled properties with the left mouse button.
2. Click the identification tab at the top of the window that comes up.
3. Write down the computer name exactly as it appears.
4. Click cancel.
5. Double click on your My Computer icon from the windows desktop.
6. Right Click on the C drive icon. Click on the menu item labeled properties with the left mouse button.
7. Click the sharing tab.
8. Make sure the 'shared as' box has a black dot in it.
9. (Important) write down the Share Name * exactly * as it appears.
10. Under access type make sure the black dot is on full access.
11. Make sure the full access password is blank. (No password).
12. Click OK to close the properties screen and exit out of the My Computer icon.

In EstiMate:

1. Start EstiMate.
2. Click File>Network Setup.
3. Look at the path. If it begins with C: or other drive name, the naming convention will need to be changed.
4. Delete the path name that is currently listed in the path to shared data field.
5. The path name needs to be in the format of: \computer nameshare namedirectorydata folder
6. For example: \ASIASI_Cestimatesdata
In this example, 'ASI' is the computer name we got from the identification tab under the Network Neighborhood properties.
'ASI_C' is the share name we got from the sharing tab under the C drive properties. 'estimates' is the directory where the data folder resides, and 'data' is the actual data folder itself.
7. Once you have the path in correctly you should see the green light come up on the upper right of the path to shared data field.
8. ** Very important ** be sure to press OK on the network setup screen. This does more than accept the changes to the path name, it sets important settings in place that EstiMate will need to function properly.