This User ID May Already Be in Use! / Sharing Violation

If you see the above error, this simply indicates that a temporary file (in the format of [User ID].prn) exists in the Abacus temporary files directory (\Abacus\vXX\dataXX\lawtemp). This file is generated by AbacusLaw to track your login, and is deleted when you close AbacusLaw.

If you see this message, simply click I Understand, and see if it lets you in. In some cases, such as when AbacusLaw crashes, the routine to delete this temporary file does not run. As a result, you will see this message, even though no one is logged in as your user ID.

If you see a message about a Sharing Violation (see below) after trying to do this, or when first entering AbacusLaw, check the sections below to troubleshoot this issue:

Index

• Ensure that No Other Workstation is Logged In as You
• Check for Stuck Lawwin.exe Processes
• Verify Security Permissions on the Server
• Clear All Database Connections

Ensure that No Other Workstation is Logged In as You

Did you recently log in as yourself on the AbacusLaw server, someone else's workstation, or an infrequently-used one (e.g. a conference room PC)? Does a temporary employee sometimes come in who uses your login? Make sure that AbacusLaw is not still open and logged in as you on any other workstation.

back to top

Check for Stuck Lawwin.exe Processes

1. Close AbacusLaw
2. Hold Ctrl & Shift & Esc on your keyboard to launch Task Manager (or right-click on your taskbar, and click Task Manager).
3. Navigate to the Details tab (Windows 10 and 8) or Processes tab (Windows 7).
4. Click on the Name column to sort the processes by name.
5. Check to ensure that there are no lawwin.exe processes running. If there are, highlight each, and click End task (or press Delete on your keyboard).

back to top

Verify Security Permissions on the Server

Abacus requires that the AbacusLaw share provides Read/Write access, and the Users group has Full Control over the Abacus directory on the server. Follow the steps below to verify that your security settings are set correctly in Windows.

Verify Network Share Permissions

1. Log into the desktop on your AbacusLaw server.
2. Open File Explorer. Navigate to the folder where Abacus is installed (e.g. C:\Abacus).
3. Right-click on the Abacus folder, and click Properties.
4. Open the Sharing tab. Click Advanced Sharing.
5. Click Permissions.
6. If there is not already an entry for Users or Everyone, click Add.
7. In the input area, type Everyone, then click OK.
   
   
   
   
8. Highlight the entry for Everyone (or Users).
9. Check Full Control, if it is not checked already.

Verify Folder Security

1. Right-click on the Abacus folder, and click Properties.
2. Open the Sharing tab. Click Edit.
3. If there is not already an entry for Users or Everyone, click Add.
4. In the input area, type Everyone, then click OK.
   
   
   
   
5. Highlight the entry for Everyone (or Users).
6. Check Full Control, if it is not checked already.

back to top

Clear All Database Connections

In extreme cases, if you cannot determine the workstation that is locking your user login (following all of the above steps), and you have access to the server where AbacusLaw is installed locally, you can clear all database connections and start from a clean slate, which should let you log in.

1. Have all users finish their work and log out of all Abacus programs (AbacusLaw, Abacus Accounting, and Abacus MessageSlips).
2. Log into the desktop on the AbacusLaw 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.

back to top