Excel reporting a user has a file open but that user can't be who it is

[jeffybear]

We are having a problem where users will try to get into an excel file
and they will get the message that a certain user has that file open.
The problem is, that computer happens to my desk right now and it's not
on! I don't even think it has Excel installed on it anymore to be
honest. All of our computers are named correctly. If I go into the
terminal and look at the list of SSH computers there is nothing with
that name. If I go into the computers that are running one of our six
copies of Office 2004, they are all named correctly. So it seems like
somehow some computer is picking up some sort of crazy corrupt old
info, even those most of these computers are brand new with clean
installs. Is there any way to figure out when that happens what the IP
address of that computer is or is there any other useful info I can try
to track down? Otherwise next time it happens I guess I'll just have to
walk around to every user and see who has what open. By the way, most
of these are brand new intel macs but of course our windows users will
also get that message if they try to access the file. Due to the name
that shows up though, I know it's not one of the Windows machines.
Thanks!

-Jeff

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

I'm going to guess from your message that you have both Mac and Windows
users who have simultaneous access to the Excel workbook.

You make no mention of having turned on the Excel sharing feature, so may I
assume the workbook was not designed to be used concurrently?

You also make no mention of having installed Thursby's Dave or AdmitMac, so
may I assume you have neither product installed?

If all my assumptions are correct then it is likely that more than one user
had the workbook upon simultaneously, which resulted in file corruption. It
appears that the file's current status is that it is "in use" even though it
is not.

Since you can still open this workbook open it, then save-as with a new file
name.

Also, if my assumptions are correct you should immediately visit
http://www.thursby.com/ and install whichever product is most appropriate
for your situation.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

We are having a problem where users will try to get into an excel file
and they will get the message that a certain user has that file open.
The problem is, that computer happens to my desk right now and it's not
on! I don't even think it has Excel installed on it anymore to be
honest. All of our computers are named correctly. If I go into the
terminal and look at the list of SSH computers there is nothing with
that name. If I go into the computers that are running one of our six
copies of Office 2004, they are all named correctly. So it seems like
somehow some computer is picking up some sort of crazy corrupt old
info, even those most of these computers are brand new with clean
installs. Is there any way to figure out when that happens what the IP
address of that computer is or is there any other useful info I can try
to track down? Otherwise next time it happens I guess I'll just have to
walk around to every user and see who has what open. By the way, most
of these are brand new intel macs but of course our windows users will
also get that message if they try to access the file. Due to the name
that shows up though, I know it's not one of the Windows machines.
Thanks!

-Jeff

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[jeffybear]

That wasn't my question. The file resides on a Windows server and we
don't want it editable by multiple people at the same time. That would
cause problems. The file is also not corrupt. What I need to find out
is who is running that particular copy of Excel.

 

[Geoff Lilley]

Jeff:

I, too, work in a mixed-platform environment like you, although, I must
confess I've never run into this one.

Couple of questions for clarification, please:
* So, does it say a person's name or a computer name who has the file
open?
* Is it one particular, individual Excel file, or does it happen with
multiple?
* When you're doing the SSH, how does the name of the computer come
up? I'm no expert on Terminal, but if I go to my System Preferences,
and go to Sharing, the name of my computer as I enter it is different
than the way it shows up in Terminal.

In terms of, does Excel report that kind of information? Not stuff
like IP address.

One thing I would suggest checking on the Macs is under
Excel->Preferences->General, see how the names are listed there. That
might give you a clue.

HTH.

Cheers
Geoff

 

[jeffybear]

It says a computer name but that also could have been how the program
was registered.

It happens on multiple Excel files.

I can SSH into the computer in various ways, including the login name,
the compter name and the IP address (with a login name). But if I go
into Terminal and hit Command-Shift-K it displays their sharing name, I
believe, which I have set to their login name. All the Macs are
correctly set to the computer name, none of which match this bizarre
instance, which is why this is so puzzling to me.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

You need to install Dave or AdmitMac from Thursby http://www.thursby.com/.

For details as to why you need to do this please read the documentation on
the Thursby web site.

Without Dave or AdmitMac MacOS is not able to determine whether or not a
shared file on a Windows volume is open or closed.

I don't know why you think you need to find out who is running a particular
copy of Excel. Knowing this information won't help you solve the file
conflict problem.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

That wasn't my question. The file resides on a Windows server and we
don't want it editable by multiple people at the same time. That would
cause problems. The file is also not corrupt. What I need to find out
is who is running that particular copy of Excel.

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info