Forum Discussion

Tormod Solem Slupphaug's avatar
Tormod Solem Slupphaug
Iron Contributor
Sep 07, 2020
Solved

Lock file from being read by more than one user at a time

Note: I'm fully aware that this request might not make much sense, but...

 

Is it possible to lock a certain document library (or individual files for that matter) from being opened and read by more than one user simultanously?

 

In my case, it's pdf files. I'm basically looking for a way of checking-out and locking a file reading. If the pdf is opened already by someone; the next person trying to open it should preferably get a warning along the lines of "Sorry, this document is already being read by John Doe, and needs to be closed before you can read it."

  • Not possible out of box. You can check out for editing but not reading.

    However. Just thinking out loud you could Probably craft a power automate flow to handle this. You would have to somehow get limited access for view files in directory and have a flow for granting access for x amount of time. Or two flows for check out and check in. And you have the flow only run and allow for an individual one at a time. So it could be done. But not out of box.
  • Not possible out of box. You can check out for editing but not reading.

    However. Just thinking out loud you could Probably craft a power automate flow to handle this. You would have to somehow get limited access for view files in directory and have a flow for granting access for x amount of time. Or two flows for check out and check in. And you have the flow only run and allow for an individual one at a time. So it could be done. But not out of box.
    • Tormod Solem Slupphaug's avatar
      Tormod Solem Slupphaug
      Iron Contributor

      "Or two flows for check out and check in".

      But would that, simply checking out a pdf, prevent others from reading it?

      • ChrisWebbTech's avatar
        ChrisWebbTech
        MVP
        I meant a flow called that. You could name it whatever but it wouldn’t be a “check out”. The flow would be granting access to the file when the flow runs. Then after a period or time revoke that or have them check in flow to remove that permission.

Resources