Checked out error in Mambo Server

User who use mambo server to host a websites may faced a problem called 'checked out error'. This could happen if your network suddenly terminated in the half way when you try to edit a post. Some days ago, I get into this problem.

Previously, mambo server from china / the websites i'm maintaining does not support Mozilla Firefox well. Some functions are being blocked by the browser. Due to this reason, i use Internet Explorer to do the update the server. Not sure what is going wrong with IE, sometimes it will turn off automatically. Thus, i do not have enough time to save my current update properly. Once i return to the dashboard using same browser again, the post that i'm editing is locked up. It prompt out the error message which the author have to check in for unlocking.

However, this action return failed because the post have not given a title yet. The title area is blank and even though i am the author also cannot check in. Some method that i found out from mambo to solve this problem. In order to unlock the post, you have to logon to the database using 'administrator'. Then perform the 'Global Check-in' select "System > Global Check In" from the Administrator menu bar.

Chapter 19: Global Check-in, Clean Cache

When a User edits a file, Mambo changes its status to "Checked Out". In effect, the file is locked and only the User who has checked it out has permission to work with it. This is a security feature that prevents two Users from editing a document at the same time, thus preventing loss of data upon saving.

When the User clicks the 'Save' or 'Cancel' icon, the file should be checked back in. If there is a connection error, or the user presses the Back button in his or her browser, a file can stay checked out, meaning no one can edit it.

A file remains 'Checked Out' until the User clicks 'Save' or 'Cancel', at which time the file is "Checked In". However, if there's a connection error, the user presses the 'Back' icon in his/her browser, or the User chooses another menu item without saving or canceling the work in progress, the file remains 'Checked Out'.
This means no one can edit this content item but the person who "Checked Out" the item or the Super Administrator. This is usually reported or experienced as Users being unable to edit or access items, and can be verified by looking at the column labeled "Checked Out" in the Section, Category, or Item file list .

If you wish to edit a "Checked Out" item, you will have to ask the last author who "Checked Out" the item to "Check In" the item or to ask the Super Administrator to "Check In" the item.

Mambo has a protocol, called "Global Check-in" that allows an administrator to unlock all files that are currently Checked Out.

To perform the 'Global Check-in' select "System > Global Check In" from the Administrator menu bar.

After performing the 'Global Check-in', Mambo returns a list showing how many items, and from which tables, were Checked back in.

Warning: Be very careful in doing this as anyone who is editing a document at that very moment can have his or her work lost.