How about closing the workbook if it's opened readonly--and this'll only work if
macros are enabled!

Option Explicit
Sub auto_open()

With ThisWorkbook
If .ReadOnly = True Then
MsgBox "not available in readonly mode!"
.Close savechanges:=False
End If
End With

End Sub

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

garyxprice wrote:

I have an xls file that I want to lock down and only allow one user at a time
access... I do not even want people to be able to go in with readonly....

Thanks

--

Dave Peterson