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General discussion

converting read-only files to read-write on cds

May 21, 2007 1:08AM PDT

i need to be able to download various forms from sites to work on them
and to work on files emailed to me. i need to have these as RW. i've read various answers in these forums,none are satisfactory.copying to the harddisk and editing there does not work,and is sometimes prevented by the windows software. does anyone know of a reliable programme that will allow download of Adobe PDF/ Word documents as RW and their subsequent copying to CD-RWs. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Are the PDFs write-protected?
May 21, 2007 2:28AM PDT

Some PDFs are simply write-protected by the author, preventing anyone else from editing them. It's also possible to prevent files from being saved, copied, etc. The only solution is to contact the author and request a copy that is not write-protected.

As to CDs, keep in mind that neither CD-Rs nor CD-RWs let you modify documents at will. The only way you can do that on CD-RWs is using packet-writing software such as DLA (Drive Letter Access), which must be installed on each computer you plan on modifying the contents on. Otherwise you must copy the entire CD's contents to the hard drive, edit the file(s), wipe the CD, then burn all of the data back to the disc.

John


P.S. Please see the forum sticky concerning future technical questions.

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converting read-only files to read-write on cds
May 21, 2007 7:11PM PDT

Only specific areas;these are job application forms,so have "textbox" areas inwhich to enter CV stuff, so theoretically one can modify them. I get what you say about wiping and reburning, but that would effectively mean one CD for each form otherwise each time I'd lose data, or be continually copying and recopying. I'll investigate the DLA software, so many thanks for that. Ruaridhmac.

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Why?
May 24, 2007 4:57AM PDT

"a reliable programme that will allow download of Adobe PDF/ Word documents as RW".
That's Internet Explorer for the download. And they aren't read only after such, as far as Windows goes.

"subsequent copying to CD-RWs"
Any burning program, even the one coming with Windows XP.

You can't add to an existing CD or update it, without using packet writing software. But you don't seem to require that in this post.

However, I wonder, why copy each individual file to CD-RW, as it seems you want to do.

Kees