Unable to delete excel file from current directory: WindowsError: [Error 32] The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process:

[Sandeep Pendyala]

Hi all

I'm validating excel files in Robot Framework. Every time I validate, I delete the recent file from current directory using Remove File keyword

So that new file with same name can accommodate in the folder. Some of them are deleting and some are not and throwing the above error.

some one please help, thanks in advance.!

Regards,

Sandeep

[adam.wyp...@gmail.com]

Hi Sandeep,

Did you try to check what process is locking your excel file? If not, maybe will be worth to check it using some external application like i.e. unlocker.

Best Regards,

-Adam.

[Sandeep Pendyala]

I used unlocker. It is locked by python.exe

Path: C:\Python27\python.exe

It is locked by python until the test is finished.

Regards,

Sandeep

[spendya]

Hi,

Can anyone please help me with this issue, I need a way to close connection with my excel file. So that I can delete it after the test finishes. (I'm running bunch of excel tests in a suite)
Currently I'm using EXCEL Library. It don't have any keywords to close connection.

Regards,
Sandeep

[Kevin O.]

Hmmm...

assuming you are working with robotframework-excellibrary

That library is global in scope and looking at the code it will not let go of the file until you open a new workbook.
My first suggestion would be to either put the files in unique folders or stop trying to use the same file name over and over (e.g. work on a copy).

Reload Library in BuiltIn is no help here because it doesn't fully reload the library.

If you are too stubborn to do change how you store the file, than there is always another way ;)

You can re-initialize the state, freeing up the file by:

    ${lib}    Get Library Instance    ExcelLibrary

    Call Method    ${lib}    __init__

This is a dirty hack, but it as clean as a dirty hack I can think of.

The file should be released shortly after (garbage collection needs to run). So you should retry Delete File with Wait Until Keyword Succeeds a couple of times.

[spendya]

Thanks Kevin. I tried your 2nd option but it doesn't worked for me

        So, I renaming my file names and test suite is not breaking.

Regards,

Sandeep 

[adam.wyp...@gmail.com]

You can try following code:

*** Settings ***
Library    ExcelLibrary
Library    OperatingSystem


*** Test Cases ***
Test
    #${excel_filename}    Set Variable    b.xlsx
    ${excel_filename}    Set Variable    b.xls
    Copy File    temp${/}${excel_filename}    .
    Open Excel Current Directory    ${excel_filename}    
    ${lib}    Get Library Instance    ExcelLibrary
    Call Method    ${lib.wb}    release_resources
    Remove File    ${excel_filename}

The biggest problem of ExcelLibrary is that nobody is currently actively develop it.

Regards,

-Adam.