Backup Excel Spreadsheet

[Guest]

I want to backup spreadsheets as I go along...

I found that if I use File | Save As | Tools | General Options | and check
the box "Always Create a Backup".............

It creates a separate new backup everytime I make changes...the folder ends
up full of them.

Questions
1. Is there a way to have it just update the one backup?

2. What would the reason be for creating lots of separate backups.

Comment
Any other useful suggestions worth considering would be appreciated

 

[Gord Dibben]

See in-line

I want to backup spreadsheets as I go along...

I found that if I use File | Save As | Tools | General Options | and check
the box "Always Create a Backup".............

Creates a backup *.xlk file each time you save the workbook.

It creates a separate new backup everytime I make changes...the folder ends
up full of them.

Should overwrite the one before, not create another *.xlk file and the backup is
always one version behind.

Questions
1. Is there a way to have it just update the one backup?

That is the normal default.......see above

2. What would the reason be for creating lots of separate backups.

Are they all named Backup of tada.xlk with tada incrementing by one with each?

i.e. Backup of tada.xlk Backup of tada1.xlt

What are the dates/times of the duplicated files?

Comment
Any other useful suggestions worth considering would be appreciated

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Hi Gord
Thanks for the reply.
My initial explanation wasn't too clear, I hope this is better. There are
two different situations I have observed with backups.

Situation 1
The individual backups have numbers similar to your suggested....
i.e. Backup of tada.xlk Backup of tada1.xlt
Dates are any date after the first same day or different day random days
when any changes have been made.
I am not sure why this happens.

Situation 2
Again as you suggested....the individual backup is one behind
I am not sure I understand the purpose of being one backup behind......if I
make many changes I would like to think the backup is going to adopt them
when I save a spreadsheet.

Separate Situation
Would you be able to explain the following....I sometimes just create many
versions using "Save As".................to provide backups.

"Save As" Versus "Save"
I find Save is unreliable and does not alway save changes.
"Save As" is the only reliable way I find provides a reliable saved copy of
my data.

Any further explanations would be appreciated

Thanks