Not getting read-only warning

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microsoft.private.mbspartner - 30 Jun 2007 00:06 GMT

We have users that use the same spreadsheets that are in a shared folder on
our network. The workbooks are NOT set as Shared Workbooks...

Previously, if a user tried to open a spreadsheet that another user had
open, they would receive a warning that they were about to open the file in
Read-Only mode.... but now they are not getting a warning... therefore, two
users may have the file open in read-write mode at the same time... and we
don't want that.

Does anyone know what has happened, and how we can correct it?

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Harlan Grove - 30 Jun 2007 20:21 GMT

"microsoft.private.mbspartner" <kwa@ceoteams.com> wrote...

>We have users that use the same spreadsheets that are in a shared folder on
>our network. The workbooks are NOT set as Shared Workbooks...
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>Does anyone know what has happened, and how we can correct it?

First make a backup copy of the file in question. Then have user 1 make a
change and save the file. Open the saved file on a 3rd machine to see
whether the change took. Once you've checked, close the file on the 3rd
machine. Now have user 2 make a different change and save the file. Reopen
the file on the 3rd machine and check that the first change has been unmade
and the second change has been made. If so, call Microsoft's paid support
number - you've found a true bug, so you won't need to pay for the call.

However, have you checked whether these multiple users have the file open in
READ-ONLY mode? If you save a workbook with Read-only Recommended (Save
dialog, Tools menu, General Options) AND you set the file's read-only
attribute, then multiple users can open the file READ-ONLY without Excel
displaying the warning dialog that they'd be opening the file read-only.

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microsoft.private.mbspartner - 02 Jul 2007 13:55 GMT

> "microsoft.private.mbspartner" <kwa@ceoteams.com> wrote...
>>We have users that use the same spreadsheets that are in a shared folder
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> attribute, then multiple users can open the file READ-ONLY without Excel
> displaying the warning dialog that they'd be opening the file read-only.

Just confirming... when you mention "AND you set the file's read-only

> attribute," I assume you're talking about the read-only attrribute one
> would set from within Windows Explorer? We'll double-check, but I can't
> imagine that one of these users would've changed that attribute... but
> they might very well have saved the file in Excel as Read-Only. Thanks
> for the suggestions.

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Dave Peterson - 02 Jul 2007 14:08 GMT

I don't think that you even have to save the workbook with readonly recommended
checked.

If the file is marked readonly via its attributes, excel will respect that and
only open the workbook in readonly mode.

To the OP:

In fact, if the permissions changed and the user only had readonly access to the
folder that contained the workbook, then they wouldn't get a message here,
either.

Excel will respect those permissions, too--and open the file in readonly mode
without any prompt.

You may want to see if user with the problem still has read/write/delete
privileges on that share. I'd open NotePad and try to save a .txt file to the
same share to check.

<<snipped>

> However, have you checked whether these multiple users have the file open in
> READ-ONLY mode? If you save a workbook with Read-only Recommended (Save
> dialog, Tools menu, General Options) AND you set the file's read-only
> attribute, then multiple users can open the file READ-ONLY without Excel
> displaying the warning dialog that they'd be opening the file read-only.

Signature

Dave Peterson

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microsoft.private.mbspartner - 02 Jul 2007 16:29 GMT

Thanks all... will check all that...

>I don't think that you even have to save the workbook with readonly
>recommended
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>> attribute, then multiple users can open the file READ-ONLY without Excel
>> displaying the warning dialog that they'd be opening the file read-only.

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