You will not be able to delete a file in use, or thought to be in use. The
short filenames will display with the dir command with dir /x. You can use
Command Line Help with /? after the command to tell you how to use the
commands.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

Maybe if you put quotes around the long file name:

del "this is a long file name that can be deleted.xls"

worked ok for me in winxp.

But maybe it wasn't deleted, because the OS saw that file as locked.

You may want to experiment with an unlocked file with a long name just so you
know the next time.

rcmodelr wrote:

Thanks for your efforts, but last night, I again tried everything that had
previously been unsuccessful at releasing the files. But first I tried
deleting the files through the command prompt.

The system gave the LONG filenames when I typed Dir/w

But the Del command refused to recognize ANY long filenames.

Then I went back and tried rebooting the computer AGAIN... Files were still
indicated as already in use by me...

Then I added the /regserver command switch to the Excel command line.
Afterwards (this was the SECOND time I tried these same things), the computer
STILL said the files were already in use.

Then, I (for the THIRD time) rebooted the computer. NOTHING done different
this time compared to the last times.... But this time, after using Excel's
/regserver command line switch AND rebooting the computer, the system FINALLY
released the files so they are once again accessible without having the
forced READ-ONLY setting.

BUT... my trying to delete the files from the command prompt brings up
another question...

Why is it that the dir command will show the LONG filenames, but the del
command will NOT recognize LONG filenames? And, how can I force the dir
command to give the SHORT filenames so I can probably identify the bad file
by creation date, and have the name displayed in a format that the del
command WILL recognize???

If it matters for this, the computer at work has Windows 2000 as its
installed operating system, and in the Windows Accessories menu lists Command
Prompt as one of theitems available.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

I really meant the rebooting the network suggestion only if the file was saved
on a network share--not on the local drive. (If it's saved on a local drive,
then rebooting the network should not make any difference.)

If you shell to the command prompt, you can issue a DIR command like:

dir /x /p

/x means show both long and short names
/p will fill the screen, then pause

dir /?

will show you a whole bunch of options.

I used winXP Home and shelled to the command prompt by:
windows start button|Run
cmd
(hit enter)

====
But if windows thinks that file should be locked, then I don't think you'll have
any luck with the old DOS command to delete the file.

====

And just double checking...

You've rebooted your local pc and you've deleted the files in windows temp
folder, right?

windows start button|run
%temp%
(and hit enter)

is a quick way to get there.






rcmodelr wrote:

Yes, it IS connected to the companies network. NO.. I am UNABLE TO try
re-booting the server. I have Administrator access privelages on the
computer I work at, but have NO access rights to the main server system.

I had thought of BYPASSING Windows and DELETING the files through DOS.

However, TWO of the files are named with Windows accepted LONG filenames
(DOS will show as Truncated/serialized filenames) Any EASY way to figure out
what DOS would find on the computer's hard drive as the filename? (the files
themselves ARE saved on the hard drive of the computer I work with and NOT
some drive somewhere else in the network.)

If it would help... without directory paths, here is ONE of the filenames as
Excel and Windows see it:

Daily Live Bird Weight Sheet (BOTH SHIFTS)0811.xls

And there are literally DOZENS of files on the SAME directory by the ALMOST
SAME name (Only difference being that the 0811 is the plant's run-date Month
and DAY) and there are currently about 3 month's worth of similarly named
files in that directory so a file from 2 - 3 months ago can be opened to find
average driver turn-around time from the farm they are catching birds at so
arrival time estimate for third load from farm can be calculated when the
plant starts running low on birds and starts calling me asking when the next
load will be there.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

Is that file on a network share?

If yes, maybe rebooting that server would help.



rcmodelr wrote:

Before you say I should:
Type "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.Exe" /regserver
(include the quotes) -- adapt to fit your path. (to force Excel to
RE-register itself...)

I already tried that, and both Excel AND Windows still say I am already
accessing those files so they can be opened as READ ONLY, but I STILL CAN NOT
DELETE or rename the files.

"rcmodelr" wrote:

This morning, at work, I was using Excel to track data on trucks at work.
During break, I opened another Excel document to view. Shortly after the
second Excel document was opened, another truck came in. When I tried to go
back to the spreadsheet file to record the info for the truck that came in,
Excel went idle for 30 seconds, then came back with a READ ERROR saying it
had tried reading a memory address that was un-readable. When I clicked OK
on the read error message box, Excel SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY...

When I RE-started Excel, and tried loading the truck info file that was
supposed to be activating when the memory read error occurred, Excel reported
that I (well, MY UserID) was accessing that file elsewhere, and Excel would
therefore ONLY open it as a READ-ONLY file. It gave the SAME "protection"
message when it tried opening my Personals.xla file.

To be able to record the info on the trucks, I had to save the file under a
NEW NAME so the data could be saved.

Afterward, I even tried RE-BOOTING the computer, THEN accessing the file,
and Excel STILL says the Personals and truck file have been RESTRICTED by MY
UserID so they are STILL only accessible in READ-ONLY mode. So I tried
DELETING them with Windows Explorer, which says the files CAN NOT BE DELETED
because my userID has restricted access to these files through Excel.

How can I get Excel AND Windows to REMOVE the protection from these NO
LONGER NEEDED files? I have a couple new macros to add to my Personals file,
but Excel won't allow me to do so, stating that the Personals file is already
in use BY ME so it can be opened ONLY in READ-ONLY mode, and I CAN NOT save
it if I want to.

--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson