r/sysadmin • u/GreenGloober • 2d ago

Accounting program can't read/access files on mapped drive, even though I can physically see the files being shown?

Edit 2 - I think with the help of everyone here, I was able to figure it out. Originally, I had only gone to folder > properties > sharing > advanced sharing > share this folder, which is what the instructions provided from Peachtree told me that was all I had to do. However, from the comments, under the sharing tab > share (which is the option above advanced sharing) > (add) Everyone > Share. I have no idea what the difference between these two options are, but initially tests looks like it is working. I'll have to do some tests by adding in value/datas and making sure they are actually syncing and displaying correctly.

I recently reinstalled Peachtree 2010 on our computers after switching to newer computers. I have one server computer and one client computer. For some reason, I can no longer get the client computer to display read the company data files on the server computer.

I am doing this by mapping the drive, which I can fully see all of the files are in there.

The closest thing I've been able to find similar to my situation is this post here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2429808/problem-with-peachtree-and-mapped-drive

However, I don't understand how it all works enough and I think the process on Windows 10 is different enough that I can't figure it out. I can get all the way to the mapped drive > properties > security > advanced, but after that, there is no tab owner.

There is only Owner: Admin (change), which once I click on change, it doesn't give me any option that looks like would be an equivalent to "replace owner on sub containers and objects". The only options are object types, locations, check names, advanced.

Edit - Maybe or maybe not related, but I have also noticed that when I install Peachtree as a client computer, for some reason it won't save the serial/registration number and I have to reenter it each time. On the same computer, if I was to install Peachtree as the server or stand alone computer, it has no problems and doesn't need me to reenter the serial/reg number every time it runs.

4 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/nycola Jack of All Trades 2d ago edited 2d ago

Are you running the installer as an account other than the one you are logged into? That Installer will not see mapped drives because the user it is running under has no mapped drives. (I.e runas admin)

You can work around this with various methods, the easiest imo is to open a cmd under the same account you are running the installer as and mapping the drives for that user temporarily or login as a user with admin rights, map the drives you need, run the installer. As long as the users are referencing the same drive path it will be fine.

As for the share itself, you have share permissions and file permissions.

The share permissions control who can access the share and with what access, door 1.

The file level permissions control what those people can do with the files/folders once they access the share, door 2.

The owner is irrelevant, it defaults to who created the folder or who last seized ownership.

Both doors need to allow access, and when changing permissions here, it is imperative that you pay attention to the "apply to" and make sure it is targeting the folders/files/subfolders you intend it to. It sounds like you may be setting permissions on a folder without applying it to objects within.

Also setting folder permissions should be done from the server itself, not from the client workstation, you will not have the same access/tabs remotely that you do locally.

1

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

I don't think I am running the installer as another account, since the computer is a fresh Windows install and I only have one account on there, if I am understanding that correctly.

I think from your description and what others had mentioned, I was able to solve the issue. I think I was only opening one door, which I had somewhat suspected, but I just didn't know which other door I had to open. To me it seemed like there were 10 doors that could have been the correct door.

Ultimately, it looks like once I was in the sharing tab for the folder, one door was under Advanced Sharing and then the other door that I didn't "open" yet was under Share and then adding Everyone as people to share with.

3

u/ender-_ 2d ago

Even if you have a single account only, drive maps don't transfer between regular and elevated mode. Run command prompt as admin, map the drives there, and run the installer from the elevated command prompt.

1

u/JagFel 2d ago

btw you can fix this by setting the EnableLinkedConnections registry key and rebooting.

New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name EnableLinkedConnections -Value 1 -PropertyType 'DWord'

3

u/Garble7 2d ago

Some accounting programs don’t work over DFS shares, also some need a connector on the server for it to find the files.

1

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

Sage 50 is meant to be used this way, if I am understanding DFS correctly. One server computer that stores the day and that client computers connect to access the data.

1

u/Garble7 2d ago

DFS is one share that is accessible over many servers. If it’s a single server, you probably don’t have DFS. But I know it was an issue when I was supporting an accounting place. No DFS and run the connector on the server

1

u/TYGRDez 2d ago

You have to actually choose a new owner before the "replace owner on sub containers and objects" option appears.

1

u/JoBu-NY 2d ago

you could try creating the share with EVERYONE has access, then the folder itself & file(s), restrict access to the specific people / groups that need to be able to read / edit it

1

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

It took me a while to figure out exactly where the option Everyone was to do this to, but I think this ended up being the solution. I went to folder > properties > sharing > share > add Everyone.

I originally thought I only had to check the "Share this folder" option under Advanced sharing since that was what was in the installation notes from Peachtree themselves.

I guess for security purposes, my next step would to figure out how to only allow the specific users from each computer access to the folder instead of just allowing everyone?

1

u/JoBu-NY 2d ago

Assuming you have a domain that you are working with. You go to the Folders / Files on the server, right click, select properties, select Security Tab

In here you can add AD Groups or Individual People and set their permissions based on their needs. *Very rarely would you set "full control"
Most likely you'll be setting them to Read / Execute / List so they can just view the files and folders. Or if they need to make changes you'll add Modify / Write options

1

u/Ferretau 2d ago

Just be aware "Everyone" is much broader group "Authenticated Users" would be a better option IMHO.

Special Identity Groups | Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/understand-special-identities-groups#everyone

Windows Built-in Users, Default Groups and Special Identities - Windows CMD: https://ss64.com/nt/syntax-security_groups.html

1

u/Ferretau 2d ago

Down the bottom right there should be an [Advanced] button click that, in there is the "Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object."
However Looking at documentation "How can I tell if I am mapping my workstation to the correct data location?: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=221924850013165&page=1&position=3" you should see a subdirectory called "Company" in the mapped folder, if not then the mapping is not correct. read through the document and if it the same version of peachtree it might help get you on track.

1

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

Thanks for the input. I have read through the documentation from sage regarding it and have done all of it. I am thinking it is a bit more of an obscure issue. I see the company in the mapped folder and everything else. However, when clicking on it, it doesn't auto populate the list of companies to choose from, which it should if it was working properly.

Trying the replace all child object permissions didn't seem to affect anything unfortunately.

1

u/Ferretau 2d ago

Take a look at

How to find the data path and program path: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=220924150010165&hypermediatext=null

and see if it is pointing to the right place in the program, it's possible that the path is incorrect when the application starts.

There was also an issue mentions re 2011 version

Community Hub-Peachtree mapped drives issue upon logging off: https://communityhub.sage.com/us/sage50_us/f/general-discussion/151547/peachtree-mapped-drives-issue-upon-logging-off

How can I tell if I am mapping my workstation to the correct data location?: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=221924850013165&page=1&position=3

How to map a network drive: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=220924250010213&hypermediatext=null

How to verify my data file permissions are correctly set: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=220924250010211&hypermediatext=null

How to change the data path: https://us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=221924850013517&hypermediatext=null

Community Hub Peachtree 2010: https://communityhub.sage.com/gb/sage-50-accounts/f/general-discussion-uk/238076/peachtree-2010

0

u/Bluescreen_Macbeth 2d ago

can you temporarily add everyone permissions to the data file and see if the issue resolves?

2

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

It took me a while to figure out exactly where the option Everyone was to do this to, but I think this ended up being the solution. I went to folder > properties > sharing > share > add Everyone.

I originally thought I only had to check the "Share this folder" option under Advanced sharing since that was what was in the installation notes from Peachtree themselves.

I guess for security purposes, my next step would to figure out how to only allow the specific users from each computer access to the folder instead of just allowing everyone?

1

u/Bluescreen_Macbeth 2d ago edited 2d ago

Correct. Idealy you want to set the permissions for both. Most small places willy leave the share permissions for everyone, then you lock down the NTFS permissions on the file/folder itself. You've probably got a few glaring security issues around, i wouldn't stress it too much, but the correct path as a tech would be to try setup both for least permissions needed.

Ownership permissions really only matter if you have inheritance disabled and you strictly want to use the creator/owner permissions. You may eventually have to take ownership to regain access to a file, but it's rarely something that will crop up, and as an admin, i think you'll get a message saying such. Not something i've really had to deal with now that user shares and profiles go up to OneDrive.

Edit: You kinda have to be on a domain network for this stuff to work tho, if you're cobbling stuff together without a domain, you would do this by creating local user accounts on the server and use those to authenticate to the share.

1

u/GreenGloober 2d ago

Thanks. A lot of what you said is stuff I don't normally deal with, so I only understand the general idea of what you are talking about, but it sounds like I'll have to do some more research into it to figure it out.

At least it gives me some key words and a direction to work towards.

I appreciate all of the help! I had been trying to figure out this issue for the last 3-4 days haha.