Writing files to a CD-RW without changing properties

[biztools <>]

I am trying to copy excel files to a CD-RW, files copy as "read only",
which I don't want, even though I check to make sure they are not "read
only" before they are written to the CD!
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

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Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

[Bill Plenge]

Unless the CD-RW is formated for packet writing they would be considered
read only. If you are using packet writing and they're being flagged read
only then I'd suggest contacting the manufacturer of for an update to your
packet writing software because that should be considered a bug in their
software.

If your copying them by interfacing with CD-ROM/RW burning software, if you
finalize the session you're telling the CD-RW that nothing new can be added
so files are read only. If you don't finalize the session more files can be
added to the CD, but again those already written would be read only.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Bill

[Gord Dibben]

biz

The simplistic mastering software included with WinXP does CD-Mastering,
not packet writing. Mastering software doesn't care if you are using
a CDR or a CDRW, it treats the file system the same way and marks all
the files as read-only.

The method used by the inbuilt burning does not write files in a 'CD-RW'
method whereby they can be individually accessed for updating or
deleting, but writes a whole batch as a 'session'. This means that the
disk can only be erased as a whole. The files are thus intrinsically
read-only, and marked as such. Read more at

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpcd.htm

If you want read/write capablity, then you need to install third-party
software that enables packet writing. Roxio, Nero InCD or similar.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

[biztools <>]

Bill, thanks very much for imput, I'm not sure I understand about the
"packet writing" part, I'll try to figure out the other way.

I usually copy the file from it's folder on my C drive to the CD-RW
drive using Windows Explorer, then from the file menu I click on "Write
these files to Cd'.
Probably not the correct way to do it :-)
regards,
Tony
Biztools

[Peo Sjoblom]

I might add that using CDs as storing excel files or moving them between
computers is OK,
but writing changes to excel files on a CD will probably end in a corrupt
file
sooner or later

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"Gord Dibben" <gorddibbATshawDOTca> wrote in message
news:qnhk405mkh54r103l...@4ax.com...

[Bill Plenge]

Yup, as the menu says, "Write these files to CD" Like Gord Dibben poster,
windows doesn't care is it's an RW or not, it considers the media to be a
CD-ROM.

Packer writing is a method of writing to a CD-RW so that files placed on it
can be updated, much like as if the CD-RW was just another hard drive,
though not quite as fast. In theory, such a CD should be able to be
read/written by any computer with packet writing software -- I say in theory
because I've run into instances where this isn't the case, CD-RWs I
formatted with the software for the packet writing that came with
my old CD-RW are recognized by the similar package that came with my new
CD-RW, though when I try to access the files with the new software, there is
nothing on the CD-RW.

Usually packet writing software comes with the CD-RW drive, though I'm
pretty sure it can be purchased seperately but you'll need to check the
softwares compatibility list to ensure it supports your CD-RW drive.
I don't remember the name of the package that that came with my old CD-RW,
but the new one came with one called "InCD."

To implement packet writing once you have loaded the software you'll need to
use it to format the CD-RW. This can take a little while depending on the
speed of the CD-RW drive. The other trade off for packet writing is this
formatting uses up a fair chunk of the CD-RW's data area. A 750M CD-RW will
have about 200M lost to "over head" from the formatting leaving about 550M
for data. The other more critical problem is that CD-RW's do have a limit
on how many times they can be rewritten (10s of thousands of writes I
think), so eventually it will become either unreadable or unreliable at
reading the files. It's not a bad way to move files around, but long term
it's not a good idea to store active files on a UDF packet writing CD-RW.
At least not without keeping it backed up elsewhere. Excel's autosave
feature would help hit the CD-RW's limit sooner then you may like.

[biztools <>]

Peo & Gord,
thanks for all the great info, it's a big help to a total rookie at
copying to CD's so that properties are not changed.
I appreciate it!
Tony
(Biztools)

[Gord Dibben]

Thanks for the feedback biz.

There is a lot of info at Alex Nichol's site along with some good links to
other sites.

Gord