The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process

Aug 09, 2016

Hello all,

I'm having this error windows when I try to save a project in Storyline 2 Updated 10. It is the same one other users reported before, but I can't see an specific solution for that: "The process cannot access the file 'C:\<name of file>.story' because it is being used by another process."

After that, I 'Save As' to create a new file, but it keeps creating double copies. Can you please help me with this situation?. Please see some attachments.

44 Replies
Diarmaid Collins

Weirdly, it's the opposite for me. If I click on the file in the Recent pane (like your image) nothing happens. Normally it opens immediately, or with a second or two of lag, but lately (not always) simply nothing opens.

If I then try via the Browse For More option it can then open. 

But if I try from the File Explorer I get the "The file ... is being used by another process" message.

Weird.

Susan Wilcox

I am having the same problems here, something that just started yesterday. I am using version 36, but cannot update because of a bug in subsequent versions that impacts our deliverables. (There is a case open on that.) 

So far, I haven't lost any work (that I've discovered yet), but the number of file copies is proliferating. I'm going to do some cleanup on my PC and see if that helps, then reinstall Microsoft .NET framework, if it doesn't.

Leslie McKerchie

Hi Diarmaid,

It sounds like you continue to run into difficulty with this error. With your permission, I'd like you to share your project file with our support engineers to investigate what's happening. You can share it privately by uploading it here. It will be deleted when troubleshooting is complete.

Hi Susan,

Thank you for popping in and sharing your experience as well. If you're still getting an error after your troubleshooting, be sure to contact our support team here for a deeper dive.

Diarmaid Collins

Hi Leslie. Thanks for responding - apologies for the delay. I'm crazy busy at the moment.

The issue is not with one file. It is with all my Storyline projects. It is sporadic. But heart stopping when it does occur.

I will try and do a screen capture if I can. That will illustrate the issue rather than sending on a file.

Daniel Nester

I am experiencing this same issue. Using a trial version of Storyline 360, following along with training videos, and I cannot save my project--getting the same error message. Attaching screenshot.

I had re-started my computer a couple times, and the error replicates. In Task manager, the other Articulate processes running in the background are Articulate 360 Desktop Service (32-bit) and Articulate 360 Installer Service (32-bit). 

Leslie McKerchie

Hi Daniel and welcome to E-Learning Heroes 😊 

Thanks for contacting us and sharing that image. It looks like you're saving to a network drive tied to Dropbox.

Please be sure to work on your local C: Drive with your software, files, and assets:

Storyline: Create, Edit, and Publish Courses on Your Local Hard Drive

Lucy Charles

Good afternoon.

I am having the same issue. It started yesterday and I can't figure a way to fix it. I'm working from a work computer so there is only so much I can do without going through the IT team.

In addition, I have constant crashes when I spend more than 2 minutes away from the program and I am finding extremely difficult to deliver my tasks on a timely manner. This is affecting my productivity.

Is there any current fix to this that doesn't require a reinstallation? I have tried closing the service and saving, I have tried closing all the suite and the program, I have tried restarting the computer, Shutting it down and switching it back on.... Nothing seems to work

Thanks

Daniel

 

Becca Levan

Hi Daniel!

I appreciate you reaching out and sharing those details. I'm sorry this is slowing you down! 

  • Do you see this behavior with all courses or is it just one?

If you're following these best practices already, I'd recommend connecting with one of our support engineers here to determine the next step to get this resolved!

Lucy Charles

Good morning. Thank you for getting back to me :)

I have just tested and whereas the crashes still happen on any course, the saving issue it is only happening with this one.
I already have quite a few copies of it as I have tried to save copies following the advice of the program and this thread.
Any ideas of how to fix this course in particular?

 

Lauren Connelly

Hello Daniel!

Thanks for sharing these additional details with us! Are you running a backup saving application like OneDrive or Dropbox? If so, can you pause syncing and save your project to your desktop or documents folder. Does that cause an error too?

The next step is to bring in our Support Engineers. You can reach out to their team in a support case, and they'll begin working with you directly.

Also, it looks like by replying via email, your contact information came through as well. This Peek video will show you how to edit it out if you’d like!

Lucy Charles

Good afternoon.

I had laready tried stopping the sync from Onedrive but to ensure I did it properly last time I have done it again. Unfortunately, the result is the same.

I am now in the process of creating another material and I am not facing this issue. It seems it is only happening with the file that made me raise the issue.

I will reach out to the support engineers and hope it can be fixed. Perhaps not for this item, since I have just decided to break it in two and I am able to save without issues on this new file, but for the future.

Thanks for your help

Daniel

Becca Levan

Happy you reached out C, and welcome to E-Learning Heroes!

So sorry this is causing such a headache. Could you confirm a few steps so we can help troubleshoot?

  • Is it just one file that is causing the issue? Can you import into a new file to see if that helps?
  • Have you tried running a repair if this is happening with all of your projects?

If you're following all best practices, connect with one of our support engineers here to determine the next step to get this resolved!

Lucy Charles

Good morning.

Only last week I managed to fix the issue with my IT team. The storyline files had to be whitelisted as the antivirus was causing the conflict.

However, I have now a new issue that is also bothering me. On occasion, when updating articulate, this deletes a file that stops all my Ms office products from starting : vcruntime140

Andrea Koehntop

Hi Patrick! I apologize for the issues you are having.

I want to ask you a couple of questions to begin troubleshooting:

  • Is this a single .story file causing this issue? Can you import it into a new file to see if that helps?
  • Have you tried running a repair if this is happening with all of your projects?

If that doesn't resolve your issue, you can open a case with one of our support engineers.