Rename Text File Used By Two applications

You certainly won't be able to rename a file which another application is writing to because the file will be locked by the operating system. Attemping to do so will therefore generate an IOException - 'file being used by another process'.

You can catch this exception and there should be no possibility that any writes which were simultaneously taking place will be lost.

However, the other application could have a problem if it attempts to write to the original file whilst it's in the process of being renamed. Unless, it's been programmed to allow for this possibility, then an error could result.

In fact, if it's writing frequently to such a large file, then I wouldn't be surprised if the other application isn't keeping the file open with exclusive write access as long it's running. If that's the case, then you won't be able to rename it in the meantime.

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Vulpes14y ago
You certainly won't be able to rename a file which another application is writing to because the file will be locked by the operating system. Attemping to do so will therefore generate an IOException - 'file being used by another process'.

You can catch this exception and there should be no possibility that any writes which were simultaneously taking place will be lost.

However, the other application could have a problem if it attempts to write to the original file whilst it's in the process of being renamed. Unless, it's been programmed to allow for this possibility, then an error could result.

In fact, if it's writing frequently to such a large file, then I wouldn't be surprised if the other application isn't keeping the file open with exclusive write access as long it's running. If that's the case, then you won't be able to rename it in the meantime.