Reading Documents Created/Modified by OSX on OS9

[Carolyn Malcoun]

So we're in that transition phase in our office where we have some people on
OSX (Panther) and some on OS9. When OS9 users open a Word document
created/modified by someone on OSX, they can only open it Read-Only. Is
there a way to remedy this? Kind of annoying.

Thanks, Carolyn

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

That's not Word. That's something to do with with users and permissions in
OS X. (unless you are transferring the documents on CD, in which case it's
the CD, still not Word)

I don't know enough about users and permissions in OS X to figure out how to
fix this, though plenty of people do, and if they don't come along here,
there are other places to ask OS X questions. Try doing a get info on some
of the files in OS X and see what the permissions are. I suspect "Others",
under Details, might be the key setting--I notice that my OS X (Panther .8)
default appears to be that Others have only Read-Only access, and I don't
think I set that deliberately.

 

[matt neuburg]

That's not Word. That's something to do with with users and permissions in
OS X.

How could that be? Mac OS 9 is not OS X; it knows nothing of users and
permissions - it neither sees nor obeys them. m.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

So we're in that transition phase in our office where we have some people on

How could that be? Mac OS 9 is not OS X; it knows nothing of users and
permissions - it neither sees nor obeys them. m.

I'm going off a vague memory of having similar problems when my part-time
job transitioned, and that was the key to solving it, with image files. I
suppose my first question should have been "does this only happen for Word
files?"

And since presumably Carolyn will post back with more info--I'll also ask
"how are you transferring the files between computers?"

DM

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Carolyn,

I cannot repro this as follows:

1. Create a doc in Word 2004 that has R/W access.
2. Send it to myself as an attachment (using Entourage).
3. Save attachment to (OS X) desktop.
4. Open in Classic/OS 9 by dragging onto Word 2001 icon in dock.

The result is a perfectly viable doc in Word 2001 with read and write
access. Admittedly, your situation is different, but I think Daiya's
question is apt: How are you getting the Word X docs onto the OS 9
machines? Also, are you positive the Word X docs have R/W access in the
first place (do a Get Info on one of them to check)?

The second thing I tried is this:

1. Create a doc in Word 2004.
2. Change it (using Get Info) to Read Only.
3. Open it in Word 2001.

If I try to change and then save the resulting document, I get a dialog
telling me the doc is Read Only but that I can save a copy with a different
name. That works fine, so at least you have a workaround until someone who
knows more about permissions issues comes along with an actual solution.

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Carolyn Malcoun]

That's not Word. That's something to do with with users and permissions in
OS X. (unless you are transferring the documents on CD, in which case it's
the CD, still not Word)

Yep you're right, I did a get info and it is set as a read only permission.
If anyone knows how to permanently shut that off, I'd love to know.

Someone also asked how we're transferring our files, and we're just opening
them off the network server.

Thanks, Carolyn

 

[Elliott Roper]

Yep you're right, I did a get info and it is set as a read only permission.
If anyone knows how to permanently shut that off, I'd love to know.

Someone also asked how we're transferring our files, and we're just opening
them off the network server.

If you will permit a cynical comment;- That's where you went wrong.
Google this group for 'server'

There are so many toy implementations of server file locking out there,
I'm amazed anyone perseveres with it. Some versions of Word do not
help, apparently taking utterly brainless defaults for work files back
on the server, in directories for which the user has no write access.

If you are collaborating with others on those files, get some proper
software and procedures for management of checking the files in and out
and then editing the checked out file locally before checking it back
in on the server.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

That's not Word. That's something to do with with users and permissions in

Yep you're right, I did a get info and it is set as a read only permission.
If anyone knows how to permanently shut that off, I'd love to know.

You did the Get Info in OS 9 or OS X? The OS 9 get info should also say read
only.

In OS X, I am pretty sure you can get info a folder to change the
permissions for all the files in it, which makes life a little easier.
Haven't tried that in OS 9.

Haven't a clue how you would prevent it happening.

DM