Issues with Data Connections and opening connected files

Hello all,

I have a problem with a file that we use at work, that feeds from data from 4 separate files. These 4 separate files are updated individually, but the problem comes when the main file is opened. When this main file is opened by anyone, it blocks access to the rest of the files, making the user open the secondary file in read only. Why does this happen if the main file is opened up as Read only? Does the connection have to do with this?

How can I fix this?

Regards,
Bacon

Hey CK! Thanks for your quick reply.

I am using Excel 2016 and the data connection is not something I am 100% sure about. What I did is:

• Data
• Connections
• Add
• Select the Excel File
• Select the table that has the data

These are the steps that I used to connect to the other files. Does this clarify the type of connection a bit?

If you are getting data using "Get & Transform Data" under Data ribbon. Then that's through PowerQuery and should not lock up source file when Master is open.

If the file was created in older version originally, that may be the cause of such issue.

When you check Property of the connection, what does "Connection string" found under Definition tab, show as Provider?

Hello CK,

The connection was made from the "Connections" tab in the data ribbon. Now that you mention that, it is right beside the "Get & Transform" group. I never clicked what you describe. What do you mean "If the file was created in older version originally"?

Provider shows: Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0