Anne Sorry to hear you say you can't change the screen -- that may be the only solution. If you can change the screen then try changing the file statement in the screen: >File YourMsgFile Designer Open Semiexclusive Append Because Quick wants to hold files open indefinitely, I try to include an explicit "Close YourMsgFile" after writing to the file, either in the designer code or in a postupdate procedure. The same file open is accomplished by the following in Qtp: >Set File YourMsgFile Open Semiexclusive Append The file equate for the message file includes the NOLOCK option, as in: :FILE MSGFILE;NOLOCK This has been working for me since version 5 -- hope this helps you. Regards, JWP -----Original Message----- From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of anne Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 8:21 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [HP3000-L] Quick file access behaviour All, I am looking for wisdom and inspiration after attempting to figure out whats going on with a quick screen that does not like a file reference. 1. I cannot change the quick screen 2. The quick screen has the statement FILE A designer 3. File A is a flat ascii file 4. I want file A to be a msg file so I build (B) an exact copy of A but add ;msg 5. I then file equate FILE A=B,old;shr 6. The screen ERRORS Data access error. (A) OPERATION INCONSISTENT WITH ACCESS TYPE (FSERR 40) 7. I have tried as many combinations of the file equation as I can think of FILE A=B,old;shr FILE A=B,old;shr;acc=append FILE A=B,old;shr;msg;acc=append etc 8. This issue only arises when B is a msg file. If I create B as a std file then the file equation works. I have non production version of the screen and if I change the file statement to FILE A OPEN APPEND SHARE the screen works. With the file equation FILE A=B,old;shr So I was wondering if anybody has some inspiration for me. Many thanks Anne * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *