Is there any way to set a timeout on a request to fetch a record in clarion or MSSQL? A connection timeout is simple but a record read timeout is eluding me.
That would be a blocking lock, or a deadlock timeout. I know some backends allow that to be set. Not sure about MSSQL
https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/6290/sql-server-update-lock-and-updlock-table-hints/
might help some. Also look at WAITFOR.
I think I’d worry that there were some badly written programs accessing the data if this is a situation you felt you had to code for. Things that lock data for substantial periods of time are normally batch processes that run in the middle of the night.