issue with formatting in shared workbook (excel 97)

I know you guys won't believe this, but our office is still using Office 97 and we don't have any kind of database for this stuff so we're making do with what we have. We shared the workbook because we have at least 3 people in it needing to make changes all day long.

I'm working in a shared workbook that is on a network. When changes to the formatting are made (ie: fill or text color) and then saved, the changes are not properly represented when another person saves the work book. It makes the changes but will put it several rows down. Only the person who actually made the changes and originally saved them has them represented acurately. If the originator of the changes closes the workbook and opens it again from the network, the changes are no longer accurate.

The workbooks are all sorted exactly the same way.

I am wondering if any of you know the source of this issue and what can be done to prevent it from happening (aside from making a database or getting a better version of office.)

I appreciate any insight you can provide!

As a work around, we stopped using the color coding method we were using and added a new column. It still does not make sense to me why the formatting is not being save properly so I'd love to hear any insight someone here may provide.

Thank you.