Using Dropbox with GAMS is NOT supported.
We suggest to run a GAMS job from a local hard drive directory, e.g. “C:\Users\aUser\Documents\gamsdir\projdir\myfirstGAMSproject”. We do NOT recommend to use a cloud service, like Dropbox, network drive or external drive, for a GAMS job.
Dropbox consists of cloud-based services and running GAMS from a Dropbox folder, may cause issues like:
*** Status: Terminated due to file open error in WRITE PARM *** Inspect listing file for more information --------------------------------------------- *** Unexpected Exception from eassertionfailed *** Msg=Assertion Failed. (solve.c:3584) CerateAndPopulateDCTObject2.=Permission denied: --------------------------------------------- **** TERMINATED DUE TO A FILE OPEN ERROR IN **** PLEASE REPORT TO THE GAMS ADMINISTRATOR --------------------------------------------- ****GAMS Exit MSG=Invalid argument for file
The issue is caused when Dropbox has locked a file for synchronization and, simultaneously, GAMS tries to access the file. Furthermore, running GAMS from a Dropbox folder (or external drive) slows down the GAMS Job execution.
Be aware that, using a Dropbox folder during a GAMS job, may cause issues. However, if you insist on using Dropbox, then the following suggestions may be helpful. All files that are unchanged during a GAMS run, can be placed into a Dropbox folder. Use a local drive for temporary work files, created during a GAMS run, as well as, for GAMS output files. Note that, GAMS creates temporary work files in a temporary folder under the GAMS project folder, during a GAMS Job. If you are using the GAMSIDE, then you may do as follows:
idir
to instruct GAMS, to look for files, in the Dropbox folder, e.g idir=“C:\Users\Toni\Dropbox\gmsfiles”.If you are using a Unix (Mac or Linux) machine, then you can run a model, let's say “/Users/aUser/Dropbox (Personal)/mymodel.gms” from a local folder that does Not contain white spaces, in the following way.
gams mymodel.gms idir=\"/Users/aUser/Dropbox\ (Personal)\"