Linked up sheets

[English Rob]

Hi All,

I have a little problem with some spreadsheets that i'm hoping you can help with.

I created 14 spreadsheets for each of my call center agents to monitor their metrics. I password protected all then placed the originals on the network. The 14 sheets have 1 cell within them that are linked up to their relevant agent cell in a separate spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is located on the network and automatically updates every hour.

I have monitored the the spreadsheets and updates etc for a while now and everything seemed to be working perfect. So I decided to slowly roll it out by placing a shortcut on 3 agents desktops. I quickly discovered that they were not seeing any updates as I had seen prior to the roll out.
I go to the folder within the network and check all spreadsheets and I see all spreadsheets working and updating successfully.

So I thought maybe it was because they were password protected. I removed the protection and the 3 agents saw their spreadsheets update successfully on their computers, the next hour as I had hoped BUT the hour following however they did not see a further update again.

I have spoken to our IT guy and he says there are no permission issues or anything that he can see as a cause for this. I am stumped at his point. The only thing I can think is that, the spreadsheet that updates every hour has the previous information overwritten, could this some how break the cell links? If so how am I seeing everything working still? Why just my computer..

Sorry for the long thread .. any help would be great ..

Thank you.

[k64]

If the spreadsheets don't move locations and you're not using functions like INDIRECT, OFFSET, GETPIVOTDATA, then the links should stay intact. Whenever an agent opens their workbook, they should see a pop-up asking them to update. If they click update it will go get the last saved copy and update. It won't update while they have it open, but the next time they open it, the same thing would happen.

[English Rob]

Thanks k64. The spreadsheets were created on my desktop then moved to the network. Do you think it would work if I made a copy of each file from their current location and delete the originals that were created on my desktop?

Also, I re-linked everything up again last night, they updated but the following hour they do not. They remain. I added another sheet to act as an in between link to see if that fixed it. Again on my computer all looks good. It worked through the night. I go to a colleagues computer and to view them and .. nope .. no updates. I'm baffled. Could it be because I am creating the documents to begin with. Also and I apologize for missing this out. I am on XP and everyone else is on Windows 7. I still think it has something to do with the spreadsheet that is updating. Still digging and experimenting. Thanks all that viewed this thread too.

[English Rob]

If the spreadsheets don't move locations and you're not using functions like INDIRECT, OFFSET, GETPIVOTDATA, then the links should stay intact. Whenever an agent opens their workbook, they should see a pop-up asking them to update. If they click update it will go get the last saved copy and update. It won't update while they have it open, but the next time they open it, the same thing would happen.

Since my last post I have been trying lots of different things. I did notice that I am the only one who is given the option of saving. When I hit yes, the the relevant shortcut(s) will update. So then I placed an original on an agents desktop to see if they got the option to save and they do not. So I think you could be onto something but why am I the only one being offered the option of saving/updating?

[k64]

Are you saying that they cannot save their workbooks? I tried linking to a workbook on my computer and it works fine for me.

[English Rob]

Are you saying that they cannot save their workbooks? I tried linking to a workbook on my computer and it works fine for me.

Exactly. They do not get the option to save. It's very strange. When the hourly update occurs the agents do not see an update. I open their spreadsheet then close and hit yes, then ask them to look again and an update is seen. I have a lot of people baffled.

[k64]

I'd do a test. Make two workbooks for yourself: a main workbook and an agent workbook. Then try it out as if you're the agent. If it works on your computer, put it on the network to see if that's the issue.

[English Rob]

So I used another computer and created a brand spanking new sheet. only 2 cells used. One has the name "Dave" and the next is a link to the spreadsheet that updates every hour. I saved and closed. After the hour I went back to that same computer and opened up the new sheet, then closed. I was not asked if I wanted to save. I did the same thing from my computer, I WAS asked if I wanted to save. hmm?

[k64]

Sounds like a network issue.

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