Ubuntu 10.10 errors when I change the temp files directory

[jruh]

Hi
I am not sure if this is a Ubuntu/Linux issue or an Audacity issue but here goes:
The default location for Audacity temp files is /tmp/audacity-jan/.audacity_temp/ and this works fine but unfortunately there is little disk space available there.

I have tried several times to change the location in preferences but when I restart Audacity i always get the following error message:

"Audacity could not find a place to store temporary files.
Please enter an appropriate directory in the preferences dialog."

I have tried several different locations on a different partition on the same physical harddrive but Audacity will only accept the default location.

I hope I can somehow make this work, it seems a very good program.

Thanks in advance, John

[steve]

The temp folder must exist.
Check that after you have selected it, it is correctly written in the Directories tab of Preferences. Then click "OK", then restart Audacity.

[jruh]

Steve, do you mean the temp folder must be named "/tmp"?
I have tried and checked many times that it is correctly written in the preferences tab, still no luck. I had also selected directories that did not exist and Audacity prompted me if i would like it created. I have also created the new directory, folders first but still no joy.
Thanks, John

[steve]

do you mean the temp folder must be named "/tmp"?

No, I mean that the temporary files directory listed in Preferences must actually exist.

Where are you trying to put the temporary files folder?
Do you have write permissions to that location?

[jruh]

I was trying to use an NTFS partition on a seperate HDD and it wouldn't work. I have now selected a folder in my /home folder (its on a seperate partition from the Ubuntu install) and it works just fine.
I thought it might be an issue of NTFS vs Ext4 but now that I read your post it makes more sense. The partitions that didn't work are all owned by Root.
If I still wanted to use a location that was owned by root, how would I go about it? I was able to create folders there. Sorry I am very new to Linux.

Thank you, John

[bgravato]

I was trying to use an NTFS partition on a seperate HDD and it wouldn't work. I have now selected a folder in my /home folder (its on a seperate partition from the Ubuntu install) and it works just fine.
I thought it might be an issue of NTFS vs Ext4 but now that I read your post it makes more sense. The partitions that didn't work are all owned by Root.
If I still wanted to use a location that was owned by root, how would I go about it? I was able to create folders there. Sorry I am very new to Linux.

Thank you, John

Depends on which ntfs driver you are using... There are known issues with writing to ntfs partition with some drivers. Sometimes even as root you get errors trying to write to ntfs partitions. There's also issues with setting permissions on ntfs partitions. It's not advisible that you use an ntfs partition for writing on linux...
If you don't need to access that HDD from windows I suggest deleting the ntfs partition and creating a linux partition in its place.

If you really need to write to ntfs partitions I strongly recommend using the ntfs-3g driver.

[steve]

I'd agree with bgravato that using an NTFS partition is probably not a very good idea, though it should work provided that (a) the partition is mounted before you open Audacity, and (b) you have read/write permissions for the location.

If I still wanted to use a location that was owned by root, how would I go about it?

You would create a new folder as root, then while you are as root, change the folder permissions to read+write for everyone.

[bgravato]

I'd agree with bgravato that using an NTFS partition is probably not a very good idea, though it should work provided that (a) the partition is mounted before you open Audacity, and (b) you have read/write permissions for the location.

I don't know what's the default ntfs driver on ubuntu, if it's ntfs-3g should work. If it's not... expect troubles! I can't create new files on ntfs partitions using the 'other' ntfs driver on my system... (not sure which is the 'other' driver but even if I'm root and the directories have all the right permissions set I can't create new files on the partition)

If I still wanted to use a location that was owned by root, how would I go about it?

You would create a new folder as root, then while you are as root, change the folder permissions to read+write for everyone.

Or change the folder's owner to your 'normal' user. But either of these methods might get trickier if you're talking about non-linux mounted partition such as ntfs...

[steve]

I don't know what's the default ntfs driver on ubuntu, if it's ntfs-3g should work

It is ntfs-3g

[bgravato]

I don't know what's the default ntfs driver on ubuntu, if it's ntfs-3g should work

It is ntfs-3g

Great! Then all should be good