HOW TO

Work with the ArcView Lock Manager ( AVLOCK ): Useful notes and examples

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Procedure

Question:
Is there any extra information available about the ArcView Lock Manager (AVLOCK)?

Answer:

Here are some notes in a nutshell that compliment the existing literature on AVLOCK:

1. Is it required to install AVLOCK on a server copy of ArcView?

It is not required that you install ArcView Lock Manager (AVLOCK) on a server copy of ArcView. You can install AVLOCK on a stand alone copy of ArcView.
2. How do I install the AVLOCK program?

To install AVLOCK, put the ArcView GIS CD in the CD-ROM and run the SETUP.EXE program. Choose Custom install. UNCHECK all the components except *Program Files* in the 'Select Components' dialog box. Then highlight the Program Files component and click on the Details button. Make sure that only the 'Multiuser File Locking Support' sub-component is checked. Then follow the instruction to continue with the installation.

To have ArcView applications register to the AVLOCK program, copy the default.flm file in C:\esri\avlock\bin32\ directory to the C:\esri\av_gis30\arcview\etc\ directory for all machines that want to be part of AVLOCK.

3. How do I start the AVLOCK program?

To start the AVLOCK application requires starting 2 programs:

#1 Click on: Start | Programs | ESRI | ArcView Lock Manager | Portmap

#2 Click on: Start | Programs | ESRI | ArcView Lock Manager | Arcview Lock Manager
4. Are there any examples of drive mapping and using the AVLOCK?

Mapping 2 drives appropriately to ensure proper file locking access (NT to NT AVLOCK sharing in one directory).

Assume:

Two PC's both installed with Windows NT 4.0 and ArcView GIS.

PC #1 is called ONE
PC #2 is called TWO

The AVLOCK has been installed on ONE.

On ONE:

Assume you have data in a particular directory that you wanted to be shared but not the rest of the hard drive. Assume the directory that contains all of the data is called:

C:\gisdata

Click on START | PROGRAMS | WINDOWS NT EXPLORER - highlight the 'gisdata' folder and choose FILE | PROPERTIES - click on the SHARING tab. Ensure the SHARED AS is called 'gisdata'.

YOU MUST MAP ONE's NETWORK DRIVE AS A DRIVE LETTER TO HAVE THE AVLOCK WORK PROPERLY FOR THIS SCENARIO! To accomplish this task do the following:

Right click on 'Network Neighborhood' Shortcut on the Windows NT desktop then left click on 'Map Network Drive'. Choose the appropriate 'Drive:' letter. The machine that is seen in the 'Path:' section should read:

\\ONE\gisdata

Click OK. [Assume in this case the drive letter mapped is X:\].

Start the PortMapper (Start | Programs | ESRI | ArcView Lock Manager | PortMap).

Start the ArcView Lock Manager session (Start | Programs | ESRI | ArcView Lock Manager | ArcView Lock Manager).

Click on the START Button in AVLOCK

Start ArcView

Load in the dataset X:\gisdata\states.shp in a view.

You should expect to see the following in the 'Filename' field of the AVLOCK:

\\ONE\gisdata\states.shp

On TWO:

Right click on 'Network Neighborhood' shortcut on the Windows NT desktop then left click on 'Map Network Drive'. Choose the appropriate 'Drive:' letter. The machine that is seen in the 'Path:' section should read:

\\ONE\gisdata

Click OK. [Assume in this case the drive letter mapped is T:\].

Start ArcView. Load in the dataset T:\gisdata\states.shp in a view.

You should now expect to see the following in the 'Filename' field of the AVLOCK:

\\ONE\gisdata\states.shp
\\TWO\gisdata\states.shp
NOTE: It is very important that if you use an ArcView session on the same PC that has the AVLOCK installed you must ensure that when you add in Themes into a View or add in databases into a Table that you choose the MAPPED NETWORK DRIVE and NOT THE LOCAL HARD DRIVE to access the data. For example, if on ONE you added in the 'states' shapefile from the local hard drive at "c:\gisdata" instead of "x:\gisdata" you would obtain different results in the AVLOCK:

\\ONE\c\gisdata\states.shp <-- loading data off the C:\ drive

-vs-

\\ONE\gisdata\states.shp <-- loading the data off the X:\ drive

If on ONE the local c:\ drive was mapped for the 'states' shapefile and on TWO the x:\ drive was mapped the AVLOCK would give different results and the AVLOCK protection would not be present.

Article ID:000001493

Software:
  • Legacy Products

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