diff --git a/aider/coder.py b/aider/coder.py
index 374e96702..f6deb9029 100755
--- a/aider/coder.py
+++ b/aider/coder.py
@@ -168,7 +168,10 @@ class Coder:
         if self.abs_fnames:
             files_content = prompts.files_content_prefix
             files_content += self.get_files_content()
-            all_content += files_content
+        else:
+            files_content = prompts.files_no_full_files
+
+        all_content += files_content
 
         other_files = set(self.get_all_abs_files()) - set(self.abs_fnames)
         repo_content = self.repo_map.get_repo_map(self.abs_fnames, other_files)
diff --git a/aider/prompts.py b/aider/prompts.py
index e33f0632d..0a53e5188 100644
--- a/aider/prompts.py
+++ b/aider/prompts.py
@@ -8,14 +8,12 @@ Take requests for changes to the supplied code.
 If the request is ambiguous, ask questions.
 
 Once you understand the request you MUST:
-1. List the files you need to modify.
+1. List the files you need to modify. If they are *read-only* ask the user to make them *read-write* using the file's full path name.
 2. Think step-by-step and explain the needed changes.
 3. Describe each change with an *edit block* per the example below.
 """
 
-system_reminder = """Base any edits off the files shown in the user's last msg.
-
-You MUST format EVERY code change with an *edit block* like this:
+system_reminder = """You MUST format EVERY code change with an *edit block* like this:
 
 ```python
 some/dir/example.py
@@ -29,11 +27,11 @@ some/dir/example.py
     def add(a,b):
 >>>>>>> UPDATED
 
+Every *edit block* must be fenced w/triple backticks with the correct code language.
+Every *edit block* must start with the full path! *NEVER* propose edit blocks for *read-only* files.
 The ORIGINAL section must be an *exact* set of lines from the file:
 - NEVER SKIP LINES!
 - Include all original leading spaces and indentation!
-Every *edit block* must be fenced w/triple backticks with the correct code language.
-Every *edit block* must start with the full path!
 
 Edits to different parts of a file each need their own *edit block*.
 
@@ -54,11 +52,13 @@ files_content_gpt_no_edits = "I didn't see any properly formatted edits in your
 
 files_content_local_edits = "I edited the files myself."
 
-files_content_prefix = "Propose changes to *only* these files (ask before editing others):\n"
+files_content_prefix = "These are the *read-write* files:\n"
+
+files_no_full_files = "I am not sharing any *read-write* files yet."
 
 repo_content_prefix = (
-    "Here is a map of all the {other}files{ctags_msg}. You *must* ask with the"
-    " full path before editing these:\n\n"
+    "All the files below here are *read-only* files. Notice that files in directories are indented."
+    " Use their parent dirs to build their full path.\n"
 )
 
 
diff --git a/aider/repomap.py b/aider/repomap.py
index c4796b78b..577b7973d 100644
--- a/aider/repomap.py
+++ b/aider/repomap.py
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ class RepoMap:
 
     def split_path(self, path):
         path = os.path.relpath(path, self.root)
+        return [path]
         return fname_to_components(path, True)
 
     def get_tags(self, filename):