"Autosave" changes active worksheet?

[RWN]

Small, but annoying, problem.

Using "Autosave" while working on a workbook with sheets 2 & 3 showing.
When the Autosave function kicks in it changes one of the displayed
sheets (typically "xls.1) to sheet #1 .
Is this "just the way it works" or am I missing something?

Also, am I correct in assuming that Autosave actually saves the
workbook(s) (i.e. overwrites the original) or does it create a backup
somewhere?

 

[rob nobel]

Hi RWN I can't answer your question but I find that the addin called
AutoSafe.XLA will save your file as a backup and not overwrite the original
is a far beeter way to go. You shouldbe able to find it using the links,
below. The Zip file comes with instructions.
Rob

Download this utility at:
http://BMSLTD.CO.UK/MVP
Or find it in the CompuServe Office forum:
http://forums.compuserve.com/vlforums/default.asp?SRV=MSOfficeForum&LOC=US

 

[Dave Peterson]

Rob,

First, I'm not stalking you <bg>.

Actually, Jan Karel Pieterse's AutoSafe won't help in this case.

From Jan Karel's notes:

This Autosafe utility creates copies of open workbooks at
regular intervals in a separate (user-selectable) directory. It does not
overwrite the master file(s), that is up to the user to do, using normal
methods. As soon as a workbook is closed the backup copy is deleted from
the backup directory.

It works very nicely to catch excel/windows crashes (like autorecovery in xl2002
and above), but not for recovering these kinds of oopsies.

==========

But autosave actually serves a different purpose. It updates the original file
after set time increments.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't use Autosave and if you really like it, save a copy in case you ever
upgrade to xl2002 (or higher???)--MS doesn't include it in these versions.

But I loaded the autosave from xl2k and it did change the activesheet to the
left most of the activewindow.

So I'm just confirming what you saw. (I think since MS dropped it in later
versions, it's called a feature!)

 

[RWN]

Thanks for the confirmation.
Having the function is not a "big deal" to me as I've developed the
habit over the years of saving my XL (& Word) files multiple times
during a session (learned the lesson a very hard way many years ago!).
Just thought I'd try it out but, seeing as it's discontinued plus
causing the annoyance that prompted this post, I think I'll get rid of
it.

And, Dave, stalk all you want - I can certainly use all the help I can
get (thought I knew a thing or two about XL until I stumbled on this
ng - Don't think I've got enough years left to amass the knowledge found
here)!

 

[rob nobel]

Sigh! I think the other Rob thinks you may be stalking him, but alas alack,
tis me, me thinks. Anyway, Dave, as Rob (from RWN) says, "stalk as much as
you like". In fact, there's an open invitation for you to come on over any
time, as I'd love an Excel wiz to sit with so I can chew their ear for a
while and see how things should be done!

In reply to...."As soon as a workbook is closed the backup copy is deleted
from the backup directory."

......doesn't it get deleted to the recycle bin?? (It does for me.)

Rob

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi rob,

As the author of Autosafe, I'd like to add some comments.

Both you and Dave are correct: AUtosafe can move the backup copies to
the recycle bin. But that option can be switched off in it's settings.
When switched off, the copies will be removed permanently. In that
mode Autosafe is almost identical to Excel's own autorecovery
function.

It is because of the recycle bin option that I still use Autosafe on
Excel XP and 2003 myself, because it gives me more control over which
version to recover. It even enables me to roll back to a copy of my
work of say 30 minutes ago, by simply closing Excel, restoring the
appropriate back up copy from the recycle bin and restarting Excel.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
www.jkp-ads.com

 

[rob nobel]

Thanks for that clarification Jan. BTW, great program. As is usual with
installing pgms, they get installed way before the instructions, etc. are
read. I just thought the delete to recycle bin was standard procedure.
In fact, that's the only reason I downloaded it because of that safety
factor.
Rob

Hi rob,

As the author of Autosafe, I'd like to add some comments.

Both you and Dave are correct: AUtosafe can move the backup copies to
the recycle bin. But that option can be switched off in it's settings.
When switched off, the copies will be removed permanently. In that
mode Autosafe is almost identical to Excel's own autorecovery
function.

It is because of the recycle bin option that I still use Autosafe on
Excel XP and 2003 myself, because it gives me more control over which
version to recover. It even enables me to roll back to a copy of my
work of say 30 minutes ago, by simply closing Excel, restoring the
appropriate back up copy from the recycle bin and restarting Excel.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
www.jkp-ads.com

 

[Dave Peterson]

Thanks for the correction, too.

Hi rob,

As the author of Autosafe, I'd like to add some comments.

Both you and Dave are correct: AUtosafe can move the backup copies to
the recycle bin. But that option can be switched off in it's settings.
When switched off, the copies will be removed permanently. In that
mode Autosafe is almost identical to Excel's own autorecovery
function.

It is because of the recycle bin option that I still use Autosafe on
Excel XP and 2003 myself, because it gives me more control over which
version to recover. It even enables me to roll back to a copy of my
work of say 30 minutes ago, by simply closing Excel, restoring the
appropriate back up copy from the recycle bin and restarting Excel.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
www.jkp-ads.com