Error renaming files with developer tool: Error renaming files: Error: (13): Outstanding references

server had been working fine no issues or changes

then we got the

Error renaming files with developer tool: Error renaming files: Error: (13): Outstanding references

reboots haven’t helped.
upgrading to latest version of OttoFMS - OttoFMS 4.15.1 - haven’t helped.

the deployment screen shows:

logs:
Phase Message
scheduled Deployment scheduled
queued Deployment queued
starting 2 files
pre-deployment script No pre deployment script to run
closing Files closed successfully
building Matching Just in Time build found in inbox, using that build
installing Error renaming files with developer tool: Error renaming files: Error: (13): Outstanding references
reverting Reverted files opened successfully
opening Files opened successfully
post-deployment script Post-deployment script not run since deployment failed
done Deployment process failed. Original files are unmodified.

however when i check the otto-error logs and i get fmsadmin.exe permission denied - how is that possible? i thought ottofms used the api.

2026-01-20T08:23:29.332Z error Command failed with exit code 9: C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe -v -u admin -p ******** Server 21
Copyright (c) 1994-2025 Claris International Inc. All rights reserved.

C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe: Version 21.1.6

C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe: Permission denied.
Error: 9 (Access denied)
2026-01-20T08:24:01.798Z error Command failed with exit code 9: C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe -v -u admin -p ******** Server 21
Copyright (c) 1994-2025 Claris International Inc. All rights reserved.

C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe: Version 21.1.6

C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe: Permission denied.
Error: 9 (Access denied)
2026-01-20T08:36:43.049Z error DeploymentError: FILES_NOT_OPENED - Error opening files: Operation Timed Out
2026-01-20T08:38:14.977Z error Error calling admin api proxy: read ECONNRESET
2026-01-20T09:01:58.231Z error DeploymentError: DEVTOOL_ERROR - Error renaming files with developer tool: Error renaming files: Error: (13): Outstanding references
2026-01-21T07:23:39.148Z error DeploymentError: FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS - File already exists: TEMP_DATA_LIME.fmp12 on the server. Use the “replace” file operation to replace it.
2026-01-21T07:23:39.149Z error DeploymentError: FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS - File already exists: TEMP_DATA_LIME_X.fmp12 on the server. Use the “replace” file operation to replace it.
2026-01-21T07:23:39.149Z error DeploymentError: ERROR_BUILDING_OPTIONS - File already exists: TEMP_DATA_LIME.fmp12 on the server. Use the “replace” file operation to replace it.
2026-01-21T07:24:35.078Z error Unhandled Rejection: Error: Local Admin API error: fetch failed; Error: read ECONNRESET; Path: /fmi/admin/api/v2/schedules/40
at Che (C:\snapshot\ottofms-server\index.js)
at async EAi (C:\snapshot\ottofms-server\index.js)
at async C:\snapshot\ottofms-server\index.js
2026-01-21T07:33:59.431Z error DeploymentError: FILES_NOT_OPENED - Error opening files: Operation Timed Out
2026-01-21T08:01:42.651Z error DeploymentError: FILES_NOT_CLOSED - Error closing files: Command failed with exit code 10904: C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe CLOSE LIME.fmp12 -y -m Closed by LIME@WATER -u LIMEadmin -p ******** 10904 (No applicable files for this operation)
2026-01-21T08:07:24.761Z error DeploymentError: DEVTOOL_ERROR - Error renaming files with developer tool: Error renaming files: Error: (13): Outstanding references

so - the underlying error is the permission denied?

but the connection passes - admin api key from ottofms web console is passing the test.

in the deployment when i test server connections - they pass as well.

also -

C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\fmsadmin.exe -v -u admin -p ******** Server 21

the admin user on our server IS NOT admin

Hey Josh,

Did you recently add external data sources to the files or something similar? That error about the outstanding references is coming back directly from the developer tool and this Claris community post seems to suggest it could have something to do with ODBC data sources.

The permissions issue is unrelated, that logs if someone tries to login to OttoFMS with the incorrect credentials.

-Kyle

Kyle -

ok - about permissions - good to know

no external data sources - and none added.

i will try troubleshooting at on the server command line with rename

FMDeveloperTool --renameFiles “C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Data\Databases\Sample” admin admin -source_filelist "C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Data\Databases\Sample\fmserver_sample.fmp12"
-regex “_sample” -replace_text “_aample” -f

this worked on the server - i will try now with actual file