File In Use Is a Template

[Neil Cumfer]

I am using Word 2007 (12.9.6324.5000) with Service Pack 1 MSO
(12.0.6213.1000) on a Windows XP Prefessional Version 2000 machine with
Service Pack 2 and logged into a Novell network (Novell Client 4.91 SP4
for Windows, version 4.91.4.20070720).

In earlier versions of Word, when I would open a saved Word document
attached to a template on our network, the document would open normally.

In Word 2007, when I open a saved Word *document* attached to a template
on our network, sometimes the File in Use dialog box pops up with a
message that the *template* is locked for editing by another user.
(Even though nobody has opened the template for editing, somebody might
have opened another document based on the same template.)

Sometimes I get this message even when no document attached to it is
open -- for example, a newly created template that has been attached to
only one document so far. At other times, I do not get this message,
even when the template has been opened for editing. It is puzzling why
this behavior is so inconsistent.

My question is this: what settings do I need to change (in Word
Options, Windows Registry, Windows policies, network
servers/folders/files/policies) so that the File In Use dialog box will
not pop up at all when the file in question is the template attached to
a document that I am trying to open?

If anybody knows, please help

 

[Terry Farrell]

Windows XP Version 2000 SP 2? I guess you mean Windows XP SP2. Even if you
did mean Windows 2000 SP 2, both need to be updated to SP3.

Though your problem sounds like a Novel permissions problem. Have you ask on
the Novel support site?

 

[Neil Cumfer]

Oops, yes, I meant Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2. I'm not
sure why we decided not to install service pack 3.

I have not asked Novell about it yet ... I did try to ask Microsoft
Support, but they said my product ID number was invalid

At any rate, I gather from your response that this behavior is not the
way the Office Trust Center was designed to work?

Thanks

 

[Terry Farrell]

I cannot think why this would be so inconsistent other than something like
the (Windows locking) temp files are not be released correctly on the
server. Most often, this is due to Word needs full access rights (including
delete) to the Document's folder on the server and this is where Novel often
stumbles. But why it is inconsistent is puzzling.

Terry

 

[Neil Cumfer]

Yes, we have had many problems in earlier versions with temp files not
being deleted, and this current issue seems to be very similar ... it
could be that the inconsistency is due to some templates being in
folders with full access rights and other are in folders without write
or delete privileges ... also I am thinking it could be related to a
user being in several Novell groups and inheriting different privileges
for the same folder and perhaps Novell supplies contradictory
information to Word

 

[Neil Cumfer]

I have made an interesting discovery about the inconsistent behavior.

If the template attached to the document I am opening resides in either
of Word's template file locations (the User templates location or the
Workgroups templates location in Word Options, Advanced) then I will
get the File In Use popup message.

However, if the document's attached template resides in some other
folder,
or Word's file locations are changed to some other folder, the File In
Use
message does not pop up.

Also, if the document's attached template is read-only the message does
not pop up, even if it resides in one of Word's template file locations.

This seems to point to a Word problem, rather than a network problem ...
or does it?

 

[Terry Farrell]

Is this whilst logged in as a user or logged in as Administrator? It is
sounding like a file permissions problem on that particular PC. What you
have discovered does explain the inconsistency of the problem (which sort of
helps). Try logging in as the administrator.

Terry