>> Whenever I copy from CD the files are always readonly. That is why I have a little bat file to change the attributes. Is there a way not to have the files on a CD marked as readonly?

If you have software like Easy CD Creator, you can use their DirectCD Format utility -- makes your CD look like a hard disk ( only slower ). You can even edit text files like with VFP's modify command, and you will see the modified file and a BAK file too. The Read only attribute is not turned on as long as the CD is in the drive -- when you attempt to EJECT the CD, you are given a choice as to how to "close" the CD:

1) Leave the CD as it is so it can be read and written to as a drive letter. Standard CD-ROM drives will not be able to read the CD ( two points you need a CDR drive and the DirectCD software whereever you use this CD )

2) Close the CD so it can be read on most CD-ROM drives after installing a "U D F" v 1.5 Reader. ( this acronym is not to be confused with User Defined Function, instead it is "an acronym for the optimistically named 'universal disk format.'" )

3) Close the CD so it can be read automatically in most standard CD-ROM drives.

Hope this helps...