Use of XLTM file

[jcb267]

Hi There -

I have an macro enabled template saved on a network called Rate_Model_SGRM_V2.xltm but when I open it the name becomes Rate_Model_SGRM_V21.xltm. Why is that?

Also, can multiple users use this template at the same time?

Thanks very much!

[Richard Buttrey]

Hi,

This means that there is already a copy of the template open.
Unless you are managing a template, to change its structure or in some other way there should be no reason to open a template let alone a second or subsequent copy of it. The point about templates is that they are a starting base point for creating .xlsx or .xlsm workbook files. You use them with File New when you want to create a new workbook.

Note that after opening a template with File New, when you come to use File Save As that the extension automatically changes from the .xltm/.xltx extensions to a regular .xlsm//xlsx extension and means the template file can't accidentally be overwritten.

As mentioned above multiple users should NOT be using the template file.

There is functionality available in Workbook files .xlsx/.xlsm which allows an individual workbook to be shared by several users, but it's generally acknowledged that this functionality is more trouble than its worth and my advice would be to steer clear of it. If you really want to consolidate information from many users then think about designing a system which can trawl through the several workbooks and grab the data into a master summary workbook.

[jcb267]

Thank you very much, Richard.

Currently there are about 10 people that would need to use this workbook. The file is stored on a network drive but when multiple people try to use it at the same time they get a warning.....Do you know of any other way to alleviate that? Our IT department is currently working on it but they have tried (unsuccessfully) to fix it in the past.

Thanks again!

[Richard Buttrey]

Hi,

So are you now talking about a workbook file rather than a template file as mentioned in your first post?

If so, and as I intimated you can choose to 'Share' a workbook - see under the 'Review tab'. Be aware though that if two users try to change the same cell then someone has to referee and decide which change should win. This is not however the only downside. See Debrah's explanation on her web site: http://blog.contextures.com/archives...ooks-in-excel/

As I mentioned there is other Excel functionality which doesn't work as you'd expect when a workbook is shared. The whole thing can be very flaky and is poorly implemented by Microsoft.

There are other ways of managing data input by different users and I'd urge you to use one of those. You can for instance link workbook cells in a Master summary workbook to precedent cells in independent workbooks.
The technique I tend to use most often in circumstances like this is a Master Summary workbook which trawls any precedent workbooks and grabs the data it needs to use in any summarisation or analysis. I'd suggest to your IT people that they check these aspects out first before trying to share a single workbook.