Time Machine on macOS fails on Manager file

1

This is a problem that I only encounter with Manager files. I have no explanation, and I have found no reference to it on this forum. So I hope somebody can help me here.

The problem is that Time Machine backup fails with the message that it could not finish the backup, with further explanation that no backup could be made from a (named) Manager business file.

This occurs regularly, always with a Manager file as the problem. I have never seen it with any other file.

I first thought that maybe Manager had the file open and that might be the cause, but it kept happening after I closed the Manager application.

One thing I have to mention (although I don’t see how that could be relevant) is that I protected the file against any change using macOS file settings. Which of course goes a bit further than setting the lock date on the file within Manager.

For now I have put the file on the exceptions list of Time Machine, but that is obviously not a solution.

Is there anything Manager does with its files that, under circumstances, could interfere with Time Machine? I don’t see what that could be, but it is a fact that this problem only occurs with Manager files. Could it be possible that somehow there is still some kind of lock? To me it’s a riddle.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

2

It it just one Manager business file that fails or all manager business files ?

This isn’t clear to me from your explanation

3

Very good question. I have more than one business file, usually two or three (for trying out things). If memory serves, the problem always occurs on the same file - but that might be simply because the algorithm chooses that one first, and then stops when that fails.
I did some testing and found the following: The first time I ran a backup, no problem. Then I made a change in the file, and changed it back. Then I again ran a backup. It failed on this file. Then, without changing anything, I ran it again. Now it worked.
FWIW, I ran a diagnostic on the volume using Apple’s Disk Utility, which showed no errors.
It’s a mystery to me but there certainly is some problem and it looks like there is a relationship with Manager. I will keep posting here if I get new information.

Added: I said the last backup worked. But it didn’t. No problem was reported, but the time on the backup was an older one. So that there was no complaint, I think, is because the file hadn’t changed between the failed backup and the last one, so Time Machine didn’t try it. I think.