Access Office file that has been opened by another user

[goodp]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

We have some type of Windows server that we use to share Office files (Word and Excel mainly). Using a Mac, if I try to open a file that someone else is editing on a windows machine, I get the following error message: "The file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding." I cannot copy this file either. Using Windows, if I try to open the same file, I get a message that I have to open it as read-only but it will open fine and allow me to save with a new name. I can copy the file and work on it locally. Conversely, if I have a file open on my Mac, no one else can open this file (on a Mac or Windows).

I understand not wanting two computers to open the same file and the Windows solution of only allowing read-only access. However, is there some way I can trick my Mac to open the file as read-only so at least I can look at the file? Otherwise, I have to boot up Windows on my Mac just to look at a file or copy to my hard drive.

Thanks

Peter

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

We have some type of Windows server that we use to share Office files (Word and Excel mainly). Using a Mac, if I try to open a file that someone else is editing on a windows machine, I get the following error message: "The file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding." I cannot copy this file either. Using Windows, if I try to open the same file, I get a message that I have to open it as read-only but it will open fine and allow me to save with a new name. I can copy the file and work on it locally. Conversely, if I have a file open on my Mac, no one else can open this file (on a Mac or Windows).

I understand not wanting two computers to open the same file and the Windows solution of only allowing read-only access. However, is there some way I can trick my Mac to open the file as read-only so at least I can look at the file? Otherwise, I have to boot up Windows on my Mac just to look at a file or copy to my hard drive.

Thanks

Peter

Hi,

You might want to try the same thing using the latest version of
Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5

Otherwise, give Dave a try:
http://www.thursby.com/products/dave.html

-Jim