Question

What is the VB code to open up a read-only file?

Asked by: f19l

Hello,

Could someone please let me know what is the VB code that I would need to use in order to open up a read-only file so that it can be amended and saved?

Thanks,

f19l

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Asked On
2009-09-22 at 08:28:24ID24751860
Topic

Visual Basic Programming

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: tgerbertPosted on 2009-09-22 at 08:38:21ID: 25394072

If the file is read-only then you can't modify it, unless you save the new contents to a completely separate file.

Make the file non-read-only first.

 

by: GrahamSkanPosted on 2009-09-22 at 08:46:22ID: 25394167

You would have to save it as another file, but this will open it:

Dim f As Integer
f = FreeFile
Open "C:\MyFolder\MyFile.txt" For Input As #f
                                              
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by: f19lPosted on 2009-09-22 at 09:02:43ID: 25394353

When the file is opened a message box appears asking whether I want to open it as a read-only file, there are three buttons to select: yes, no or cancel. If I press no then the file will open such that I can make changes to it. What I was hoping for was to get some VB code that will select or "press" the no button, if possible.

 

by: egl1044Posted on 2009-09-22 at 09:03:35ID: 25394364

Something like this should work if attribute only. If another process has the file "locked" this is something different.

Sub DisableReadOnly(ByVal szFile As String)
  
  Dim Attr As Long
  Attr = GetAttr(szFile)
  If Attr And vbReadOnly Then
    Call SetAttr(szFile, Attr Xor vbReadOnly)
  End If
 
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
 
  DisableReadOnly "d:\new text document.txt"
 
End Sub

                                              
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by: tgerbertPosted on 2009-09-22 at 09:03:53ID: 25394369

How are you opening the file?  The File Open Common Dialog control has properties to show or hide those extra options...

 

by: f19lPosted on 2009-09-22 at 09:12:11ID: 25394445

egl1044,

I have added your code to my VB coding but I cna not seem to get it to run. Could you please advise what I am doing wrong?

tgerbert,

The file security was set such that it would open as a read-only file. The VB code that I have opens it up but I can not seem to get around the message box that appears.

 

by: tgerbertPosted on 2009-09-22 at 09:15:24ID: 25394475

Post your code.

 

by: GrahamSkanPosted on 2009-09-22 at 09:39:18ID: 25394715

The snippet that I gave opens a read-only file without any dialogue coming up. I rested it before I posted it. Do you know where the three-button window comes from? If not, what is the caption and message on the three-button window, so we can work it out?

 

by: f19lPosted on 2009-09-23 at 07:29:28ID: 25403463

The code that I am using is very basic, which I have attached. The message that appears is as follows:
'FX Deal Log FY 09-10.xls' should be opened as read-only unless you need to save changes to it. Open as read-only? Yes, No or Cancel.

 Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Workbooks.Open ("O:\Treasury\Daily\FX Return and Position\FY10\FX Deal Log FY 09-10.xls"), UpdateLinks:=False

                                              
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by: tgerbertPosted on 2009-09-23 at 07:35:05ID: 25403544

Ah ha!  NOW it all makes sense!

 Application.ScreenUpdating = False
 Workbooks.Open ("O:\Treasury\Daily\FX Return and Position\FY10\FX Deal Log FY 09-10.xls", updateLinks:=False, ReadOnly:=False, IgnoreReadOnlyRecommended:=True)

                                              
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by: f19lPosted on 2009-09-23 at 07:39:09ID: 25403585

Thanks, that works.

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