Problem with shared excel file.

[m0rph]

hello everyone I posted the below question on the ms vista networking forum
as I thought it might be something to do with sessions but someone has
advised I post it here so if this is not for you guys then sorry, but here
goes




Hi all I have a strange issue that is a bit long winded so bear with me will
try to explain as quickly as poss.

Setup it this:

Vista Business machine (Main): sharing a multi user excel document (not
generally used on this machine)

Vista Business machine one (VMB1): this is the main user of this doc the
edits happen here doc is usually open first here also.

Vista Business machine two (VBM2): this is a read only viewer of the doc if
the VMB1 machine opens the doc then VBM2 tries to open VBM2 will sit there
forever with the timer icon, this will continue until either you close the
doc on VBM1 or close some open sessions from the Main machines computer
management
util.

However if VBM2 opens the doc as read only first it will open instantly then
VBM1 machine can login afterwards without an issue to either machine.

This only happens between these two machines both vista business, we can
access it with no problems in the same way as these two from other OS's so XP
machines and we even have a couple of Vista home machines that dont have a
prob.

As far as I can see it seems to have something to do with amount of sessions
these vista business machines seem to be opening but I could be wrong.

Have tried to google this but finding info this advanced is rare, any help
or ideas would be gratefully received.

Thanks all

 

[JP]

You focused on Vista, but didn't mention the Excel version. I assume
by "shared" you mean that you've turned on the sharing feature of the
workbook.

If you have one editor for the spreadsheet, why is it shared?

--JP

 

[m0rph]

Sorry I focused on Vista because this was in the other Vista thread but they
said to try this thread,

anyway excel version is mixed mainly 2007 but some 03 the machines that are
having the issues are both 07 and I personally didn't turn on the shared
workbook feature but someone else did.

I think what they are trying to do is one person to edit and the rest to
view they are putting some costings or something in it some info that the
other guys need and they chose share excel workbook as the easiest thing to
implement rather than setting up a database.

 

[JP]

If only one person is editing, the shared feature can only get in the
way. Try turning it off and see if that improves performance.

--JP

 

[m0rph]

ok thanks dumb question then coming up if its not shared how are the other
people supposed to be able to access it at the same time as the editor ????

 

[JP]

They will be prompted to open the file as read-only.

--JP

 

[Gord Dibben]

The workbook can always be opened by multiple users as "read only" for
viewing when editing user has workbook open for editing.

If you want simultaneous editing by multiple users then workbook must be
shared.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[m0rph]

Ok I checked this last week and the workbook is not shared the users are
accessing it as you said in the first place logging in as read only no
editing permissions enabled, sorry I thought they were.