This article only applies to the ADS version of AbacusLaw by CARET.

This error occurs when the Advantage Database Server (used by AbacusLaw by CARET to control database connections) is already maxed out on the number of connected users when your workstation tries to connect. While the number of users your Advantage is configured for is tied to the number of AbacusLaw by CARET user licenses you have, this error CAN occur even if not all users are connected.

Read below to troubleshoot potential sources of this error.

Index

• Verify Number of Configured Advantage Users
• Close AbacusLaw by CARET Programs on Workstations Not in Use
• Clear All Database Connections
• If the Issue is Recurring

Verify Number of Configured Advantage Users

1. On a workstation where you can open AbacusLaw by CARET, navigate to File > Utilities > Data Server Info.
   
   
2. The Fortress Utility window opens. Click Server Info.
   
   

You can also access this information on the server where AbacusLaw by CARET is installed locally by opening the Advantage Configuration Utility.

A text document opens showing the current users connected and the maximum number of users you are configured for on Advantage. Check the Configured column and verify that it is the correct number of users. It should be equal to the number of AbacusLaw by CARET users that you have, plus one if you have any Abacus Mobile licenses. For example, if you have 5 users and 3 Mobile users, you would have 6 Advantage users.

If it is the incorrect number of users, Advantage needs to be updated with the correct serial number and validation code. You can follow the instructions in this article to do this: Adding a New User License.

If following those instructions does not update your user total, contact AbacusLaw by CARET Client Services at 800-726-3339 to obtain your serial number and validation code.

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Close AbacusLaw by CARET Programs on Workstations Not in Use

The error can also occur when more workstations have AbacusLaw by CARET open than users. This is because an Advantage “user” is used whenever an AbacusLaw by CARET program is open (even MessageSlips) on a workstation, regardless of whether a user is actually logged into AbacusLaw by CARET.

Two common culprits:

• AbacusLaw by CARET is not normally used on the server, but was recently opened for testing purposes, and never closed.
• An infrequently used workstation was turned on and MessageSlips opened automatically when Windows started.

You can use the Data Server Info option in AbacusLaw by CARET to show you what workstations are currently connected (see the previous section above).

View any workstations (or laptops) in your office that do not currently have a user actively working within AbacusLaw by CARET on them, yet show on the Data Server Info document generated by AbacusLaw by CARET, and do the following:

1. Check for any open AbacusLaw by CARET or Abacus Accounting windows, and close them if they exist.
   
   
2. Check for an MessageSlips icon in the system tray. If so, right-click, then click Exit Abacus MessageSlips.
   
   
   
   
3. Open Task Manager by holding Ctrl & Shift & Esc on your keyboard, or right-clicking in your taskbar and clicking Task Manager.
   
   
4. Switch to the Details tab (Windows 8 or 10) or Processes tab (Windows 7).
   
   
5. Close any open AbacusA.exe, AbacusMO.exe, lawwin.exe, and Msgs.exe processes that appear on the list by highlighting them and pressing Delete on your keyboard or by clicking End Task.
   
   

If you would like to disable MessageSlips starting automatically altogether, view this article: Disabling MessageSlips.

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Clear All Database Connections

If the above steps were unable to resolve the issue, and you have access to the server where AbacusLaw by CARET is installed locally, you can clear all database connections and start from a clean slate.

1. Have all users finish their work and log out of all AbacusLaw by CARET programs (AbacusLaw by CARET, Abacus Accounting, and MessageSlips).
   
   
2. Log into the desktop on the AbacusLaw by CARET server.
   
   
3. Open the Advantage Configuration Utility and click Stop Service.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Open Computer Management. Computer Management can be found within Administrative Tools if you are unable to find it by searching for it on the Start menu.
   
   
   
   
5. Navigate to System Tools > Shared Folders > Open Files. Select all entries that start with your Abacus directory path (e.g., C:\Abacus…), right-click, and click Close file.

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If the Issue is Recurring

If the issue recurs repeatedly after following the above steps, check the following:

• Ensure that all users close their AbacusLaw by CARET programs at the end of the day (or shut down their workstations), rather than leaving them open and locking their workstations. It is especially important that any users that use infrequently-used workstations do this.
  
  
• If any of the workstations on the network have a wireless adapter but are connected to the network via a cable, they may be connected to the Advantage Server with both the wired and wireless connections, using two users on a single workstation.
  • To check this, view the Data Server Info document generated by AbacusLaw by CARET. Under the section that shows the Connection Name of each connection, ensure that the Network Address matches for each connection from the same Connection Name.
  • If multiple Network Addresses show on the same Connection Name, disable one of the network adapters in use on that workstation. Speak to your IT or system administrator for assistance, if needed.
    
    
• This issue may also occur if the communication between the workstation and the server is frequently interrupted or lost and the server is unable to receive the packet from the workstation that tells it to close that workstation's connection. In this case, the connection should time out eventually (after 120 seconds, by default).

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