uPdating shared excel file on a network

**James12** · 07-23-2009, 06:06 PM

I have a file that is used by multiple users and viewed on multiple computers through out the day and information is being changed peridocally, but only the first person who opens the file is allowed to make the changes beacuse all other open files are read only, also data does not updated on the read only files unless you close and reopen the file, is there any way I can set the file up to update in real time and have everybody have access to be able to make changes to the file. I have attached the file so you canbetter understanding of what the file looks like.

**martindwilson** · 07-23-2009, 06:32 PM

under share workbook editing tab check the allow changes by more than on user ..... box
warning this may not work as you require!
sharing like this causes all sorts of problems
if more than one user changes same cell on save they will be prompted "whose changes to keep" now if they choose theirs the other gets deleted
if they chose other they will have to reenter date elsewhere
also sharing is prone to cause workbook bloat a smallish 1meg file can swell to 15 meg + quite easily.
the work book often can lose data for mysterious reasons and formatting changed seemingly on a whim.
users forget to close workbook and when you look at who has this file open you could end up with 20 or so names many of them duplicated.
so dont share unless you are in strict control of it.
unshare it everynight 9this clears out odd users)
save a copy at least once a day.
it really works best if only one user is likely to edit a field at anyone time
say a job list where user one is dealing with job one so no one else is likely to update that field because they would be on say job 3.
if you can avoid it do so
you have been warned