Drawing File Is Write Protected Autocad 2009

Issue:

When saving a drawing file in AutoCAD (almost exclusively to a network location), the file suddenly becomes read-only with a message appearing similar to one of the followings:

AutoCAD Message

Unable to save to drawing <path>\<drawingname>.dwg as it is being accessed by another session. Drawing saved to <path>\<filename>.tmp

AutoCAD Message

Drawing file is write protected

The issue may occur with:

• Single user:A drawing is opened by one person. Saving suddenly shows the file as "read-only" with the preceding error.

• Multiple users:One person opens a drawing. Another person opens the same file and does not receive the prompt that the drawing is already in use. When the first person goes to save, it is "read-only" with the preceding error. The second person can work on the drawing as expected as that session of AutoCAD has taken over read-write access to the file.
• Unsupported servers (non-Microsoft Servers such as Google Drive, Egnyte).

Causes:

Note: When AutoCAD saves a drawing, it writes the drawing to a TMP file, deletes any current backup file (BAK), renames the DWG to BAK so that BAK file is newest version, and finally it renames the TMP to DWG. In some instances, the last step fails (see AutoCAD file save process).

Possible detailed causes

• Server environment; network attached storage (NAS) device; storage area network (SAN) device.
• Distributed File System (DFS): A DFS allows system administrators to make it easier for users to access and manage files that are physically distributed across a network. With a DFS, files distributed across multiple servers can appear to users as if they reside in one place on the network.
• Mirrored file servers: Multiple server systems present the same files and different locations.
• Novell server: The file cache settings in the Novell Client might be enabled and may need to be turned off.
• Insufficient Windows profile permissions.

Network performance issues

• Synchronizing time between server and workstation.
• Network saturation/Excess server workload.
• Virus protection on the client or server.
• "Misbehaving" network drivers on the client or on the server.
• Offline Files syncing issues between the client system and the server.
• Cloud storage solutions (DropBox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.) synchronizing the folder where the drawings are stored on the local machine.

Solution:

There are several troubleshooting suggestions, but a few quick workarounds can be:

• Use SAVEAS to save the file under a new name and then, within the operating system, rename/replace the original drawing.
• Attempt saving a second time after waiting a few seconds or attempt SAVEAS and overwrite the original drawing.
• Reset the user-specific settings and launch using a default user profile.
• Define the default location for BAK files to a local path. Use MOVEBAK command for this.
  • Alternatively, type ISAVEBAK on the command line in AutoCAD and set it to 0 (zero). This turns off saving a backup file.
• Type ISAVEPERCENT on the command line in AutoCAD and set it to 0 (zero). This stops appended saves, making sure the full file is saved each time.
• Type DEMANDLOAD on the command line in AutoCAD and set it to 0 (zero). This turns off loading of registered applications for custom objects.

For further troubleshooting, do one or more of the following:

• Install the latest updates for AutoCAD (see Install Updates, Add-ons, and Enhancements).
• Upgrade to a newer version of AutoCAD (or install the latest version in trial mode to test).
• Uninstall A360 Desktop (formerly named Autodesk 360). This software has been retired.
• Prevent the computer from going to sleep.
• Delete all temporary files (see How to delete temporary files in Windows).
• Reboot the network server.

Disable Offline Files

1. Search for Control Panel > Sync Center > Manage offline files.
2. Click Disable offline files and then click OK.

Turn off file indexing on the folder where DWG files are stored

1. Right-click the folder > Properties > General > Advanced.
2. Turn off Allow files in the folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties.
3. Click OK.

Disable antivirus software

• If this eliminates the problem, exceptions for AutoCAD and/or DWG, BAK, TMP files may need to be added or other antivirus settings examined (see How to set up antivirus (AV) exclusions to improve stability and performance of Autodesk software).

Files permissions

1. Check that correct permissions are set on DWG and BAK files, and hidden DWL and DWL2 files.
2. Confirm that full read-write-modify permissions are on the folder location being saved to.

Files stored on inaccessible locations

• Opening a DWG file directly from an email or a CD/DVD disc does not allow saving back to that source.

Mapped drives

• Ensure that mapped drives are not timing out (see Mapped Drive Connection to Network Share May Be Lost (Microsoft)).

Check latency or lag time between AutoCAD and the server

Workstations may not be getting cues from the server about file locks at the right time (or contrariwise).

• Test saving and resaving to the local drive and then to a share on another workstation to pinpoint the problem network location.
• Check the network adapter settings on all Ethernet ports and make sure they are not on auto-negotiation. If possible, they should be set to the speed of the network at full duplex (see "Configuring Windows 10 for Wired Publicly Accessible Network Ports" by PittNet Wired).
• There could also be a conflict or bad synchronization time between the server and workstation. Server time stamp settings should be checked to confirm proper functionality.

Novell servers

• Check for file corruption due to Disk Space Restrictions (Quotas) and File Caching (Opportunistic Locking) (see Unable to Save Drawing to Novell Server).

Test user accounts

• Log in to another system and test saving in AutoCAD and have someone else log in to the same computer and test AutoCAD.

Corrupt user profile

• Rebuild the user profile in Windows.

Cloud storage applications/drives

• Disable any storage applications and drives or wait until the folder/drive is synchronized with the cloud and then try opening/saving again.
• Set the cloud provider's settings to always keep a local copy of the files on the workstation (disable files-on-demand, choose 'offline' setting, etc.).
• If the cloud provider has an option to prompt the user for backup synchronization, disable that option.

VPN

• Work with local data to pin-point if the issue is related to the connection.

Products:

AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD Products;

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Source: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/DWG-files-unexpectedly-become-Read-Only.html

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