Multiple users

[Tendresse]

When i open a workbook saved in our network, i don't get the prompt message
informing me that the workbook is locked for editing by another user. So i
assume that i'm the first user to open the document. After i do some editing
and want to save i either get a message saying 'unable to save'. or i don't
get any message at all but when i reopen the file later, i don't find any of
the work i was doing! After discussing this issue with one colleage, i found
out that he had the same file open before me. however, i was never prompted
when i opened it.
We are using Excel 2003. Is this likely to be a problem in the Excel file
itself or in the server?
I desperately need help with this issue please.
Tendresse

 

[JLatham]

I see you have two somewhat related questions here. This one and another
about you not getting Macro warnings sometimes when opening Excel files from
the server.
First thing to do to try to determine the source of the problem is to see if
anyone else is having similar problems on their local computers. You should
be able to simply "ask around" about the macro warning issue, for the lack of
warning on a file that's open by someone else, you'll need to open it on one
machine and then see what happens when it's opened on other systems.

Assuming that Excel is installed locally on your computer, if no one else is
experiencing the same problems on other systems, then it may be time for a
repair installation of Office/Excel on your computer. If others are
experiencing the same issues, then it is pointing to a problem of some type

 

[Tendresse]

JLatham, thank you so much for your reply .. much appreciated ..
Well, Yes! other users are experiencing the same issues (not receiving macro
warning and not being notified when the file is locked for editing by another
user). These users are located in different offices and using different
machines. So given that, it's then pointing towards a problem in the server.
Would you please recommend a link or a site where i can read about server
problems and errors? I was the one who created the Excel workbook and when
these weired problems started happening i was getting the blame for them. No
one says "what could be wrong with the server?" instead, it's always "who
created this spreadsheet?". so i need to increase my knowledge about servers
issues to be confidently able to discuss similar problems in the future.
Where would be a good starting point?

I also have another question please in relation to an error message "There
are too many cells formatting" and that it may cause a whole workbook to
crash. I need to know more about this issue as well. How do i prevent it? Is
there a set number of allowed formatting before it becomes 'too many'? i
haven't had this error happening to my workbook (yet) but i need to be
prepared. What do i do if it happens? and how can i avoid it in the first
place?

Thanks again for all your help ... you saved my job ..

Tendresse

 

[JLatham]

I'm kind of going to have to pass on the first part of the problem. I've
never experienced it and haven't researched it. My best suggestion is to
start doing Google/Yahoo!/etc. searches for phrases like 'Excel not locked
for multiple users' or variations. You might go here:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/
and pick up the group specific to your server version and ask in that
discussion group.

As for the limits on cell/number formats. That is somewhat version
dependent. Use Excel Help and search for the topic 'Excel specifications and
limits' - it will provide much of that information. For Excel 2003, the
limit on cell styles is 4000. The limit for custom number formats is between
200-250.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Causes and resolutions.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;213904


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP