XL: Can't Access File Opened as Read-Only in Visual Basic

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SUMMARY

A file opened as read-only through a Visual Basic macro will remain read-only to other applications until it is closed.

This is normal operation of Visual Basic. Visual Basic opens the file for input in compatibility mode; this prevents other users from opening the file in anything other than compatibility-input mode.

This functionality is different than the FOPEN function in Microsoft Excel version 4.0. The statement =FOPEN(filename,2) will allow read-only access while allowing full access to other applications.

Macro Example

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The following code opens a file (C:\TEST.TXT) as read only and forces the file as read only to other applications until you close the file or quit Microsoft Excel:

   Sub Test()
      Dim FileNumber as Integer
      FileNumber = FreeFile()
      Open "c:\test.txt" For Input Access Read As #FileNumber
   End Sub