Multiple User File Editing

[Guest]

Hello, how do I allow multiple users to access and edit the same document in
the same time? We do have files on our firm's network but multiple users need
to edit the document at the same time. Thank you.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

This is not possible in Word.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Guest]

I'm using Word 2003 and having the opposite problem - the "master" file is
stored on a network folder, and many people can open and edit it. However,
the one saved last prevails and the edits of other people are lost. I would
like Word to warn prospective users that " file is being edited by another
user" - how can I do it ????

Thanks !

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

This should be happening automatically. Whenever one person has a Word
document open, an "owner file" is created (see “Description of how Word
creates temporary files†at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632). If
another user tries to open that document, Word generates a message that the
file is being used by <user> and gives the second user the option of opening
it read-only.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the message - I agree that it should not be happening, but it is !
When user A opens the Word file stored in a network folder, Word creates the
temporary file (the one starting with ~), and all users accessing the folder
can see it. But other people can still open the same file unimpeded, and
whoever saves last prevails.

I tried the same test with Powerpoint, and same thing happened. Excel is
better, it warns that "file may have been modified by other user, do you want
to overwrite or save with a different name ?".

Any other advice on getting Word 2003 to behave properly ???

Thanks !

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

It's possible you'll get an answer here, but this is really an end-user NG,
and there is so much traffic that your issue may not attract the attention
it deserves. You might be better advised to post in one of the Office NGs
that are aimed more at administrators.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Is this a .DOC file?

Are all users seeing this folder as the same name
or are they all mapped to it differently?

Do you have the 'make local copy' setting turned on
in Tools=>Options=>Save?

Have you cleaned out all old files using the search string
~$*.$;*.tmp

=========
Thanks for the message - I agree that it should not be happening, but it is !
When user A opens the Word file stored in a network folder, Word creates the
temporary file (the one starting with ~), and all users accessing the folder
can see it. But other people can still open the same file unimpeded, and
whoever saves last prevails.

I tried the same test with Powerpoint, and same thing happened. Excel is
better, it warns that "file may have been modified by other user, do you want
to overwrite or save with a different name ?".

Any other advice on getting Word 2003 to behave properly ???

Thanks ! >>