XL: Excel Sets Archive Bit on File When File Is Opened

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for OS/2, version 3.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel sets the archive status on a file that is created when the file is opened, not when Microsoft Excel writes the file back to the disk.

This does not happen in the following situations:

• If you are using Microsoft Excel versions earlier than 3.0.
• If Microsoft Excel files are created by versions earlier 3.0 and are opened in Microsoft Excel version 3.0 and later.
• If the files are opened as Read Only.

MORE INFORMATION

The archive status on Microsoft Excel files change the user name associated with the file when the file is opened. This modifies the file information and therefore the archive status is set to indicate that the file has changed since it was last saved. Microsoft Excel makes this change in order to indicate who is using the file when another person tries to access the file that is already in use.