Refresh data problem

[Reeva]

Hello

I've recently asked some information regarding the refresh of an external file every second. Now that works, but I have a problem with this:

The file that I try to 'refresh' in excel is also opened by anthother program, which is updating the file with new data every second.

But now that's the problem, because it works for about 30 seconds, and then there cannot be added some data to the file from the extern application.

I really don't know what could be the problem .. is there a limit in windows or something which gives an error after x-times opening a file by 2 or more applications?

Thank you ad advance
Alexander

[Mark@Work]

I'm guessing a bit, but I suspect that the problem is that Excel (or possibly Windows)
does not like having two applications accessing the same file simultaneously.
You are probably getting away with it if the two applications are slightly staggered,
so application A has finished accessing the file before application B starts, then visa-versa.
However if the timing is not exact the interleaving of the two applications gradually shifts
until one has not yet finished when the other trys to start and the process grinds to a halt.
If you can ensure the timing of both applications is kept precise enough to ensure separate access every time that might be OK.
Otherwise I believe there are ways to check if a file is free before attempting access (but I don't know how myself).
Possibly you can devise some kind of semaphore between the two applications.
Hope this vague diatribe helps...
Mark