Concerned about multiple users reading files interfering with write access to files

[Juddster]

I have an LV MES application that will be running in several places/computers. Each one will create a unique HTML report and update it frequently. These HTML files will be accessed and combined by another LV application into a new HTML file which will be updated frequently. All the HTML files could be opened by a user at any time in a web browser.

My concern is could the HTML reports be prevented by either a user or the combining app from being written by the MES app? If the user or combining app has a report open can it still be written by the MES app? The same applies to the combining app being prevented from being written if a user has its HTML output open?

Each HTML file can only be written by one application but read by many potential users and/or one app.

All programs run independently and asynchronously. Each app runs on its own computer and the files all exist in a network location.

Can I do this by just controlling users file priveledges? If everyone has only read permissions except the computer writing the HTML file will that be sufficient?

MES is Manufacturing Execution System

Thank you

Judd

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

HTML files are nothing more than just text files.

[RTSLVU · Accepted solution]

I would imagine as long as users are viewing the reports with a web browser there should be no issues.

Web browsers do not "lock" a file when they open it like Word or Excel because web browsers do not and should not edit or change the file in any way.

If only one person could view a web page at at time the internet would not function as we know it.

But if you are worried about it use LabView to lock the files while the program is running. That way users can only open the file as read only if they use something  that can edit the files. If you use the standard LabView file open read/write vi's that pass a file reference then this will happen automatically.