How can I prevent someone from deleting a shared workbook?

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Brian - 19 May 2006 02:06 GMT

I have designed a shared workbook in which multiple users will make changes
everyday. I have gotten some concern that a user may be able to delete the
workbook and then we would loose the data. I don't want to protect cells,
but is their a way to prevent someone from deleting the entire workbook?

Thanks!

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JMB - 19 May 2006 02:30 GMT

A legitimate concern. I had a template on a shared system that other users
could not modify, but they could delete it (and, of course, they did).
However, this seems like more of an issue of network rights than an Excel
issue. I don't see how Excel could prevent someone from deleting the
workbook.

Maybe you should speak w/the IT people, and make sure you have backups.

> I have designed a shared workbook in which multiple users will make changes
> everyday. I have gotten some concern that a user may be able to delete the
> workbook and then we would loose the data. I don't want to protect cells,
> but is their a way to prevent someone from deleting the entire workbook?
>
> Thanks!

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Dave Peterson - 19 May 2006 14:49 GMT

I'm not sure you can stop them--well, if you want them to be able to save
changes.

When excel saves the file, it saves it as a temporary file with a funny name (8
characters--no extension) on that same drive/folder.

If the save is successful, xl will delete the original (or rename it to its
backup name (like "backup of book1.xlk)) and if that's successful, xl will
rename the funny named file to the original's name.

So as long as the users are supposed to be able to save their changes, they need
delete access to that server/folder to delete the original file.

Maybe your network staff can find a way around this.

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Dave Peterson

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