Read only command line switch
 

Oh wise ones,

Excel 2003
XP Pro

I would like to force a workbook to open read only. I have followed the
directions in the help section, but I must be doing something wrong. Any help
would be appreciated.

The workbook is on a shared network drive here;
S:\common\Lab\Job Aids\Golive.xls

I created a shortcut and edited the target like below, but windows says it's
invalid.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE /r S:\common\Lab\Job
Aids\Golive.xls"

Thanks,
Mike

When you have spaces in your paths, you have to surround each of them with
double quotes:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /r
"S:\common\Lab\Job Aids\Golive.xls"

(all one command)

I do have a question for you.

If you want the workbook to be readonly for all the users, you'll have to put a
shortcut like this on all their desktops and hope and pray that they use that
shortcut.

You may want to mark the file ReadOnly in Windows Explorer.

Or even save it with a password to open with modify rights:

File|SaveAs|Tools|General Options|Password to modify

The other users will be still be able to open it in readonly mode.



Mike K wrote:

Oh wise ones,

Excel 2003
XP Pro

I would like to force a workbook to open read only. I have followed the
directions in the help section, but I must be doing something wrong. Any help
would be appreciated.

The workbook is on a shared network drive here;
S:\common\Lab\Job Aids\Golive.xls

I created a shortcut and edited the target like below, but windows says it's
invalid.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE /r S:\common\Lab\Job
Aids\Golive.xls"

Thanks,
Mike

--

Dave Peterson

Thanks Dave, that did the trick. Security is no big deal.
I just wanted to be able to open a copy without any
prompts.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
When you have spaces in your paths, you have to surround
each of them with
double quotes:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /r
"S:\common\Lab\Job Aids\Golive.xls"

(all one command)

I do have a question for you.

If you want the workbook to be readonly for all the
users, you'll have to put a
shortcut like this on all their desktops and hope and
pray that they use that
shortcut.

You may want to mark the file ReadOnly in Windows
Explorer.

Or even save it with a password to open with modify
rights:

File|SaveAs|Tools|General Options|Password to modify

The other users will be still be able to open it in
readonly mode.



Mike K wrote:

Oh wise ones,

Excel 2003
XP Pro

I would like to force a workbook to open read only. I
have followed the
directions in the help section, but I must be doing
something wrong. Any help
would be appreciated.

The workbook is on a shared network drive here;
S:\common\Lab\Job Aids\Golive.xls

I created a shortcut and edited the target like below,
but windows says it's
invalid.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11
\EXCEL.EXE /r S:\common\Lab\Job
Aids\Golive.xls"

Thanks,
Mike

--

Dave Peterson
.