File in PDA's /Data partition fails to save at program exit

[BeloSol01]

I'm running a Windows program, installed by Wine, with the application in the normal location (~/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Sharp/PC Software/pcsyncso.exe) but accessing its data files in an NTFS partition (/mnt/Data/Sharp Organizer). There is a different data file for each organizer function (*.DAT) and one for the organizer's configuration (my_eo.seo), all all are supposed to save automatically whenever the program terminates.

The problem occurs when the Application Work Path is configured to point to the NTFS data partition (as above). When opening the program, making a change in the database, and exiting the program, my_eo.seo fails to save, producing an error message.

When the program runs under Wine normally (with the first shortcut listed below), using the data files in the program directory (this is where the installer normally places them) completely normal operation results when the program closes. The only problem is, now the data files are in an ext4 partition, and so if and when the same program were to be run from MS Windows, it will not show the changes made during updates made when running under LinuxMint.

The Wine installer created this, that works but shows blank data files, as are normally seen in a 'fresh installation' of the organizer's software:

Code: Select all

Shortcut #1:
Description: Shart PDA
Command: env WINEPREFIX="/home/ron/.wine" wine C:\\windows\\command\\start.exe /Unix /home/ron/.wine/dosdevices/c:/users/Public/Start\ Menu/Programs/PC\ Software\ for\ YO-520/PC\ Software\ for\ YO-5
Work Path: /mnt/Data/Sharp Organizer

I added this Work Path manually, but it has no effect, i.e., the program is still reading the blank data files created by the setup routine. However, the program opens and closes normally, including updating the my_eo.seo file.

Not understanding the purpose of nearly everything in the WINEPREFIX line, I experiemented by replacing it with the essentials, that I knew to work, from running the organizer software from a command line. Also, I suspected something in the WINEPREFIX was preventing the Work Path from taking effect.

I edited the Desktop shortcut to this (below), and now the organizer program starts and displays the organizer's data -- the result I was hoping to see:

Code: Select all

Shortcut #2:
Description: Sharp PDA Test Copy
Command: '/home/ron/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Sharp/PC Software/pcsyncso.exe'
Work Path: /mnt/Data/Sharp Organizer

However, it exits with an error, saying that a 'file could not be saved' and this is my_eo.seo -- I am certain if this fails to update, there will be synchronization problems with the PDA's hardware.

This is what's in the Wine program directory for this software:

• DATA OUTL97.exe pcsyncso.exe PLMcComm.dll readme.txt Uninst.isu
  OUTL2000.exe OUTL98.exe PLMcCmnd.dll PLMcPrtcl.dll SYS.DAT

And, this is what's in the Data directory, as created by the program installer running under Wine:

• ANN1.DAT EXPENSE.DAT my_eo.seo SCHEDULE.DAT TEL2.DAT TODOCAT.DAT
  ANN2.DAT MEMO.DAT PAYTYPE.DAT TEL1.DAT TEL3.DAT TODO.DAT

I have checked the permissions, comparing those of my_eo.seo with those of the *.DAT files that were written to normally. I check both from LinuxMint and MS Windows 7, but could see no difference. All were 'wide open'.

Could it be a failure to detect the .dll files when Shortcut #2 is run? The purpose of these is undocumented ...

Please tell me what other information would be helpful. Note the boldfaced filename, that fails to update, but only when located in the NTFS Data directory. The others seem to update just fine, regardless of location.