Oracle 7 Locking Tables

(Oracle 7.3.4.4)

I have multiple Java application clients that need to lock tables on the server while they are manipulating them. This is a lengthy process and the problem I have encountered is that while client A is performing its actions, client B attempts to grab the lock and begins its work. The fact that client A has the lock doesn't get passed back to B for a rather significant amount of time--and in the meantime client B gets neck deep in its own work. The delay is long enough that I suspect I have missed an Oracle parameter somewhere that would "lock failed" msg return more quickly. Does anyone know of any such parameter? Can anyone explain why an attempt to get a lock on several tables that are already locked doesn't return quickly?

Thanks,

Tim Received on Tue May 23 2000 - 00:00:00 CDT