Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -293,12 +293,11 @@
           (dbr:dbstruct-tmpdb-set!  dbstruct tmpdb)
           (dbr:dbstruct-dbstack-set! dbstruct (make-stack)) ;; BB: why a stack?  Why would the number of db's be indeterminate?  Is this a legacy of 1.db 2.db .. ?
           (stack-push! (dbr:dbstruct-dbstack dbstruct) tmpdb) ;; olddb is already a (cons db path)
           (dbr:dbstruct-refndb-set! dbstruct refndb)
           ;;	    (mutex-unlock! *rundb-mutex*)
-          (if (and (not dbfexists)
-                   write-access) ;; *db-write-access*) ;; did not have a prior db and do have write access
+          (if (not dbfexists)
 	      (begin
 		(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "filling db " (db:dbdat-get-path tmpdb) " with data from " (db:dbdat-get-path mtdb))
 		(db:sync-tables (db:sync-all-tables-list dbstruct) #f mtdb refndb tmpdb))
 	      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " db, " (db:dbdat-get-path tmpdb) " already exists, not propogating data from " (db:dbdat-get-path mtdb)))
 	  ;; (db:multi-db-sync dbstruct 'old2new))  ;; migrate data from megatest.db automatically
@@ -312,11 +311,13 @@
   ;;
   (cond
    (*dbstruct-db* *dbstruct-db*);; TODO: when multiple areas are supported, this optimization will be a hazard
    (else ;;(common:on-homehost?)
     (let* ((dbstruct (make-dbr:dbstruct)))
-      (when (not *toppath*) (launch:setup areapath: areapath))
+      (when (not *toppath*)
+        (BB> "in db:setup, *toppath* not set; calling launch:setup")
+        (launch:setup areapath: areapath))
       (db:open-db dbstruct areapath: areapath)
       (set! *dbstruct-db* dbstruct)
       ;;(BB> "new dbstruct = "(dbr:dbstruct->alist dbstruct))
       dbstruct))))
    ;; (else