You could write a DOS script that would do the opening, assuming you could pass the file name (of the highlighted file) to the script

Would that be app independent?

You know what? I miss switches. I mean, I assume and even know they're still out there, but last time I tried to research Eudora's startup switches it was so overly difficult...

Would that be app independent?

DOS can tell the underlying XP OS to open a particular file and XP then picks the correct app based on the usual file-type association. For example, I type an Excel file name on the DOS command line and Excel starts with the file I typed open.

Not sure if there's a "read only" switch for DOS.

Not sure if there's a "read only" switch for DOS.

Then I don't think I understand your suggestion.

Well, I was hoping there'd be one. Maybe I'll look when I'm sober.

ita, would having a DOS script that first changed the file to read-only, then opened it, then changed the file back to writeable work?

Of course, one disadvantage of this would be if the file is read-only in the first place, it will end up writeable.

Of course, the big question is still whether a DOS script can get the highlighted file name passed to it as a parameter when the script is called by the right-click/open-with functionality.

eta: Also, there is a switch to open a file read-only for editing....

The switching of the file's status wouldn't work, because I'm trying to solve a work problem where I need a gazillion files open to do what I'm doing, but I don't want to lock the editors out--I'm just using most of them for reference.

Don't sweat it, tommy. I appreciate your effort, but I was hoping to take advantage of work already done, in a...what was that app?...PowerTools or whatever sort of way.

Actually, this part:

whether a DOS script can get the highlighted file name passed to it as a parameter when the script is called by the right-click/open-with functionality.

I've been wondering for years - if I could do that I could save myself a bit of file maintenance work on one of our client's systems.

But really, the sucky thing is that Windows lacks a decent scripting language (.bat files don't count). Isn't there a new scripting facility in Vista?

(Reuters) - Apple Inc. said it launched iTunes Plus, a digital rights management-free music download service, for $1.29 per song.

The new service, offering higher audio quality music downloads, will operate alongside the existing iTunes, which offers music tracks at 99 cents per song, Apple said in a statement.

Separately, Apple said it will also offer educational materials from universities on its new iTunes U service

hmmm University classes....

ita-there is not a chance that most of these files you are opening are office files is there?

Cause if so, office has an option to open files read-only, and you could probably write a macro to make it a one-click choice.

office has an option to open files read-only, and you could probably write a macro to make it a one-click choice

A macro that's invoked from the right click menu in Explorer? I didn't know you could do that. I thought the app had to be open and in focus.