Issue:
AutoCAD products no longer controls file locking by creating lock files. Files do not open "read-only" when they should.
Note: "Read-only file" pop-up message will not be displayed upon opening a file when more than one person is working on that same file.
Causes:
- File locking has not been configured on the network file server, file access software, or cloud storage.
- File locking has not been configured correctly for the specific user environment.
Solution:
Configure file locking services, if available, in the operating system of the network file server, file access software, or cloud storage. This may require IT support. Depending on the operating system in use, file locking attributes may be a functions of:
- Group or user permissions.
- Share permissions.
- Folder or file permissions.
- System policies.
Cloud drive services often do not have any type of file locking or check-in/check-out process. Files are cached locally from the cloud storage.
Notes:
- Since the release of AutoCAD 2000, the program no longer controls file locking or creates lock files. All file locking now is performed by the operating system or file access software.
- DWL files were formerly used. DWL and DWL2 files are now only used for the WHOHAS command within AutoCAD to see who has a DWG file open.
- When a drawing is closed, AutoCAD will erase both files. If AutoCAD crashes, the files are not deleted but they will be automatically overwritten when the DWG is opened again.