File is locked for exclusive use by ...

[Domin]

Hi All

I have a flow which has 6 approval steps that work step by step. There is no loops, it updates the properties of the file after each approval.

Issue is that if someone receives the approval, click on the link to file, edits what they need to edit and then leave it open while clicking approve. It throws an error saying -  "file name" is locked for exclusive use by "user". 

Is there any work around for this ? Surely the files can be worked on at the same time with office online ?

Thanks All

Dom

[v-litu-msft]

Hi @Domin,

Is this a local file? If it is, the file will be locked after the file edit in the past several minutes. As a workaround, you can add a delay action after each approval action, to make the system have time to release the file.

If you use the office online, it can be edit at the same time.

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Lin Tu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Domin]

The file is online, but the flow fails on "update file properties" if its opened by another use. Even myself. It doesnt like when the file is open and the flow get to update the properties. 

I wonder if this is a glitch ?

Is there a way to check if locked or unlock file by force ?!

Dom

[v-litu-msft]

Hi @Domin,

You can use the Check-out and Check-in actions to have a test.

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Lin Tu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Domin]

I have tried that, i tried to wrap the update properties action between check out and check in but it still fails. 

Not sure what else i can do

[ciaolei1]

Same issue.  Did you get a solution for it?

[Domin]

Not yet, there are workarounds using variables butthats when you have about 2 approvals, i have 6 and that would become a monster i reckon ! 

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@ciaolei1 wrote:

Same issue.  Did you get a solution for it?

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[Domin]

Update:
I have used a loop on the update property function. I set a variable globally, then branch it off in the loop, when the update properties is successful (set to success) it will break out the loop and continue, otherwise its set to "failed" and set a delay for 5-10 min to time out after 30 days P30D.