When trying to open a system you get the error message:
Cannot open the system because it is in use by another user
PM8: All versions
PM8 uses a locking system to ensure the integrity of system data by permitting only one user to open a system at a time.
If the system is already open by another user and you try to open it then you will get the message:
Cannot open the system because it is in use by another user
and the next part of the message reads like this:
User=Joe Bloggs, Computer=MYPC, Process=1234, Time=08-Nov-2020 12:00:42 pm
Have the other user (shown in the error message) close the system then you will be able to open it.
The Computer tells you where PM8 is running, Process is the process ID of PM8 on that computer and User is the user logged into PM8 with the system open.
PM8 maintains recovery information on each computer that is used to identify when a failure has abnormally disconnected PM8 from the database and the recovery information is used to release the system lock.
A failure may happen when a computer is running PM8 with a system open and that computer is disconnected from the network by unplugging or by moving out of Wi-Fi range or by disconnection of a VPN.
In the event that the computer shown in the message is not running PM8 (Check for the Process in the Windows Task Details tab to be certain), run PM8 on that computer and log into PM8. It does not matter which user you use to log into PM8 (i.e. It does not need to be the same user that had the system open). PM8 will read the recovery information and if it determines that the system is no longer in use then it will release the system lock making it available to be opened elsewhere.
Jobs that have been released to manufacturing may be accessed in PM8 without opening the system and requiring the system lock.
To open a job for manufacturing:
Jobs then Manufacture job.The Manufacture Jobs window improves workflow
As well as not requiring exclusive access to the system, the Manufacture Jobs window shows a list of all jobs requiring manufacturing and the jobs are removed fron the list after you mark the job as complete.
The list of jobs allows you to better control your workflow.