norm_ashton Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Hello, I am building a data CD containing about 20 PDF files and an Excel spreadsheet with hyperlinks to the PDF files. I want the spreadsheet file to open automatically when the CD is accessed. How do I do this? I am using Easy Media Creator 9 in XP Pro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanrosenfeld Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 I think that if anyone places the CD in their drive, they should get a screen that will ask them what they want to do with it anyway, Terry. At least that's what happens when I place a CD in my drive with XP or Vista. However, like you siuggested, they will have to have the Excel program on their computer and have the autorun enabled. I rarely use that screen (just my way) but instead use windows Explorer to open the drive. Most of the time I can then choose to do what I want with the files on it. Either run it, transfer files, change file names, etc. Makiing an autorun "INF" file is the way to go Terry, if that's all you want to do with the contents though Frank... If the recipient does not have Excel, there is the excel viewer, that could also be added to the CD http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrewst Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Take a look at this page.You should be able to create a shellexecute Autorun.inf file you can include on the disc. This takes into account that whomever you give the disc to will have Excel on their machine to open the file.Also that the have Autorun enabled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norm_ashton Posted December 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Thank you, gentlemen, for a good and instructive discussion. I have decided to build my Table of Contents, with its hyperlinks, in PowerPoint - much better looking than a spreadsheet. I will use the autorun feature of PP to ensure that the CD will over-ride the usual pop-up asking what you want to do with the CD and go automatically to the PP file. I will include a copy of PP Viewer on the CD for those who do not have a full-featured PP. Thanks again, Norm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Take a look at this page.You should be able to create a shellexecute Autorun.inf file you can include on the disc. This takes into account that whomever you give the disc to will have Excel on their machine to open the file.Also that the have Autorun enabled. I think that if anyone places the CD in their drive, they should get a screen that will ask them what they want to do with it anyway, Terry. At least that's what happens when I place a CD in my drive with XP or Vista. However, like you siuggested, they will have to have the Excel program on their computer and have the autorun enabled. I rarely use that screen (just my way) but instead use windows Explorer to open the drive. Most of the time I can then choose to do what I want with the files on it. Either run it, transfer files, change file names, etc. Makiing an autorun "INF" file is the way to go Terry, if that's all you want to do with the contents though Frank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrewst Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Glad you got the help you were looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_hardin Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Take a look at this page.You should be able to create a shellexecute Autorun.inf file you can include on the disc. This takes into account that whomever you give the disc to will have Excel on their machine to open the file.Also that the have Autorun enabled. Thinking a little more on this… If disc space permits, he could include the Excel Viewer program on the CD and call it in the AutoRun. It is around 10mb. Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrewst Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Thinking a little more on this… If disc space permits, he could include the Excel Viewer program on the CD and call it in the AutoRun. It is around 10mb. Here Good point James. I think that if anyone places the CD in their drive, they should get a screen that will ask them what they want to do with it anyway, Terry. At least that's what happens when I place a CD in my drive with XP or Vista. However, like you siuggested, they will have to have the Excel program on their computer and have the autorun enabled. I rarely use that screen (just my way) but instead use windows Explorer to open the drive. Most of the time I can then choose to do what I want with the files on it. Either run it, transfer files, change file names, etc. Makiing an autorun "INF" file is the way to go Terry, if that's all you want to do with the contents though Frank... Yeah Frank,it will ask.What they're trying to do though is insert the disc and then have Excel open with the spreadsheet displayed automatically.There are different kinds of files on the disc so normally you'd probably have to choose Explore this disc... and then click on the sheet and Excel would open. With the Autorun file the OS looks for one on the disc when it first scans it.If it finds one then it runs the command thats in it.That's how install routines and other stuff runs when you insert a disc.If there is no Autorun.inf file then the menu you described pops up as long as Autoplay is enabled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Thinking a little more on this… If disc space permits, he could include the Excel Viewer program on the CD and call it in the AutoRun. It is around 10mb. Here Thanks Jim for that link. I knew that MS had a Power Point viewer but I didn't know they had one for Excel. I have MS Office so I don't need either one but I have several friends that I will let know about this one as they would like to be able to read PPS & Excel files they receive. TERRY:--Based on what the OP wants to do, building an INF Autorun file would be the best way to go, no doubt. The biggest drawback to that is that the other user has to have Excel installed on their computer. Either that or use Jim's link and download the Excel viewer program. Frank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDWAGON Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Add it to your start menu F... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norm_ashton Posted December 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Add it to your start menu F... I guess I wasn't clear enough. If I present the CD to someone else how can I set up the CD burn so that on their computer it automatically opens the spreadsheet when the CD is accessed. I would not want to ask them to re-organize their Start Menu just to read this CD, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpabruce Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 I guess I wasn't clear enough. If I present the CD to someone else how can I set up the CD burn so that on their computer it automatically opens the spreadsheet when the CD is accessed. I would not want to ask them to re-organize their Start Menu just to read this CD, You can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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norm_ashton
Hello,
I am building a data CD containing about 20 PDF files and an Excel spreadsheet with hyperlinks to the PDF files. I want the spreadsheet file to open automatically when the CD is accessed.
How do I do this?
I am using Easy Media Creator 9 in XP Pro.
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