# Why does SU think the file is open? **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Created:** [June 17, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221 "2015-06-17T13:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/1 "2015-06-17T13:51:01Z")
SU pro 15.0.9350 W7 x64 16gb ram When I open an SKP file SU will tell me that it is already open. If I say I don’t want to open in read only mode and try to open again it will open - sometimes it takes 4-5 trys. Obviously, it is not already open. This happens 99% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/2 "2015-06-17T14:14:28Z")
Bill, why have you not updated to v 15.3 ? ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/3 "2015-06-17T14:34:12Z")
Have a look at this thread > [@"File currently locked by another user" error in Windows Explorer](http://forums.sketchup.com/t/file-currently-locked-by-another-user-error-in-windows-explorer/6999): > > We have found a bug that has a workaround. The “file currently locked by another user” message seen when the preview pane in windows explorer is open and the file is opened by double clicking. Some people get a “read only” version when opening. To see the issue, you need to have the Preview pane open (which is turned off by default - which is a good thing - on Win 7, Win 8 and Win 10), Windows Explorer needs to be set to a thumbnail view, the model needs to have a thumbnail and the user needs t… ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/4 "2015-06-17T20:35:15Z")
I have never used the preview pane in WE using detail view. first noticed this bug in 15.3 of Make. had to go back to 15.2 cause it was so annoying. So why does 15.0 of pro have it? and why wouldn’t 15.3 of pro have it if 15.3 of Make does? ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/5 "2015-06-18T01:19:34Z")
It may be a bitness bug. Are you talking about all 64-bit editions ? ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/6 "2015-06-18T13:40:18Z")
yes both were 64 bit OK, what is a “bitness” bug??? ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/7 "2015-06-18T13:43:28Z")
A bug that occurs only on the edition compiled for a particular OS bitness. Some users with certain Graphics cards, have had to uninstall the 64-bit SketchUp edition, and run the 32-bit edition. There is some issue with OpenGL and 64-bit function calls with their graphics cards. (And I do not know what yours is, because you have not filled out the 3 IT questions in your profile.) ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/8 "2015-06-20T13:39:23Z")
GTX560Ti on W7 x64 Why does a graphics issue cause the program to think the file is already open??? Seems like disconnected functions to me. Why does it do it 2-3-4 times then be happy??? Sounds like a race condition in the software to me. But then what do I know. ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/9 "2015-06-20T13:43:41Z")
> [@bill\_ruggirello](#): > > Why does a graphics issue cause the program to think the file is already open??? **I did not say that.** I just used that issue as an example of a bug that we know is occurring on the 64-bit builds, and not on the 32-bit builds. (And added the offhand comment that you hadn’t filled out the 3 IT questions in your profile.) ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/10 "2015-06-20T13:49:06Z")
With regard to the “ThumbsUp.dll” … you could try a simple test, by renaming it, and reboot (since this is an Explorer bug,) and restart SketchUp. Then retry… This was suggested by SketchUp Team member Jody here: > [@Files open as read-only](http://forums.sketchup.com/t/files-open-as-read-only/8599/6): > > We’re currently investigating this issue. Some users report that trying a second time and the file will open without the message so you might just be able to persevere to get it working. Another possible culprit is the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer. Try disabling that and see if the error continues. Finally, as @thomthom mentioned, this may be tied to the thumbnails and the workaround to rename the “thumbsup.dll” file to “thumbsup.old” may work as well. Be sure to let us know in this threa… If this does not work you could try one of the 32-bit editions. ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/11 "2015-06-20T14:14:19Z")
thx I will try that the curious thing is that it does not happen with 15.2 ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/12 "2015-06-20T14:15:52Z")
Yea, in that thread Thomas suggested it was a regression with the M3 build. ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/13 "2015-06-20T14:33:24Z")
I poked around in the Microsoft forums and found a post that gave instructions for “taking ownership” of files and folders. This was in a [thread](http://Cannot%20access%20folders%20and%20files%20even%20with%20Administrator%20rights) about not being able to access files and folders even with Admin rights. > [@](#): > > How to Take Ownership in Windows and access locked files and folders > > 1. Locate the file or folder on which you want to take ownership in windows explorer > > 2. Right click on file or folder and select “Properties” from Context Menu > > 3. Click on Security tab > > 4. Click on “Advance” > > 5. Now click on Owner tab in Advance Security Settings for User windows > > 6. Click on Edit Button and select user from given Change Owner to list if user or group is not in given list then click on other users or groups. Enter name of user/group and click ok. > > 7. Now select User/group and click apply and ok. (Check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” if you have files and folder within selected folder) > > 8. Click ok when Windows Security Prompt is displayed > > 9. Now Owner name must have changed. > > 10. Now click Ok to exist from Properties windows > Once you have taken the ownership of file or folder next part comes is Granting Permissions to that file/folder or object. > How to Grant Permissions in Windows 7 > > 11. Locate the file or folder on which you want to take ownership in windows explorer > > 12. Right click on file or folder and select “Properties” from Context Menu > > 13. Click on Edit button in Properties windows Click ok to confirm UAC elevation request. > > 14. Select user/group from permission windows or click add to add other user or group. > > 15. Now under Permission section check the rights which you want to grant i.e check “Full Control” under the “Allow” column to assign full access rights control permissions to Administrators group. > > 16. Click Ok for changes to take effect and click ok final ok to exit from Properties window. > Now you can access files of folder in windows 7 with full permissions and take full control It got me thinking, and I went and checked files that I wrote myself both in my “Documents” path and in the “Public/Pictures” path. The ones in my User path, the owner is set as the “Administrators Group” The ones I wrote to the Public Pictures path, as set as “NETWORK SERVICE” being the owner. **So where are the files that you have issues with ?** Public path or User path ? Local path or Network path ? ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/14 "2015-06-20T14:54:54Z")
And I found **[another post](http://blogs.technet.com/b/the_microsoft_excel_support_team_blog/archive/2012/05/14/the-definitive-locked-file-post.aspx)** that says file locking occurs on Win7 also with the **Details** pane and **Popup** file tooltips active. (It is in the Microsoft Excel Support Team blog. The item was posted 3 years ago.) **ALL 3 need to be turned OFF:** Apparently as you are double-clicking to open the file, Explorer is trying to read information about the file, to display in the Details, or popup tooltips. [quote]III. Turn off the Preview Pane, Details Pane and pop ups that show information about file and desktop items This is a problem that has been reported to affect Windows 7 clients only, not Windows XP. The problem here may have something to do with the Windows Explorer in Windows 7. We are currently investigating this further and will post more information as it is available. In a Windows Explorer window, do the following: 1. Right click on the Start Button. 2. Click ‘Open Windows Explorer’. 3. At the top left click Organize \> Layout 4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane. 5. On a Windows menu, click on Tools \> Folder Options. In the box that opens up, click on the View tab. Scroll down the list to “Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items” and clear the checkbox and then click OK. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/15 "2015-06-21T00:24:01Z")
thx i never have used the preview pane but on my laptop the detail pane is checked so it must be checked on the desktop.i will chk that later. I guess i must question why sketchup is the only program that has an issue with this ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/16 "2015-06-21T01:45:43Z")
It must not be if the MS Excel Support Team is saying it happens when xls files are double-clicked also. I never have the issue because I don’t open models that way. I open SketchUp first. ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/17 "2015-06-21T02:22:46Z")
I have never had it happen with Excel. I use office 10 and xlsx files ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/18 "2015-06-21T11:21:09Z")
Well I do have a protocol I follow whenever the File Explorer listings fall behind. I click in the list pane, click the **F5** (Refresh) key, then click the tree pane and again click the **F5** key. Next time you get the “file locked” dialog, you can try this, before another double-click attempt. * * * And you don’t have any problems using the right-click menu \> “Open with SketchUp 2015” ? ---
**Author:** ![bill\_ruggirello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@bill\_ruggirello](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bill_ruggirello)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/19 "2015-06-22T02:15:53Z")
OK, just chkd. It is explorer related. If I clk the file on my desktop it seems to work. If I clk when I first open explorer it seems to work. If I move around in folders then clk it bombs. If I rename thumbsup.dll it also seems to work I didn’t do much testing but it looks good so far. But I do the same thing with an xlsx file and it never happens. So, why can’t SU be fixed. I have no idea what thumbsup is for so maybe I won’t miss it. But if renaming it solves the problem then would one assume fixing thumbsup would be the thing to do? ---
**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221/20 "2015-06-22T11:22:38Z")
> [@DanRathbun](#): > > Yea, in that thread Thomas suggested it was a regression with the M3 build. It was fixed in M2, but someone (possibly) broke it again fixing something else for M3. “ThumbsUp.dll” is the SKP file Thumbnail image handler for Explorer. It is called by explorer.exe to display little bitty images of SketchUp models in the filelist pane of Explorer. * * * One thing I we have **not** tried, is to copy the 2015 M2 “ThumbsUp.dll” file into an 2015 M3 install. [Next page](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/why-does-su-think-the-file-is-open/12221.md?page=2)