Excel file

[Likeexcel]

Hello: Does anyone know what needs to be done to an excel file so that more one user can go in the same file and make changes? Currently, we get read only if another person is in the file. Any suggestion is much appreciated! thank you.

 

[Jonmo1]

A couple things

1. Use Access instead of Excel - it's much better at handling multiple users accessing at the same time.
Let users enter data in Access, then you have a master xl worksheet to retrieve the data from Access.


2. Make the file a Shared File (in XL2010 on the Review Tab "Protect and share Workbook")

 

[Teeroy]

You can make the file a shared workbook which will achieve this however I've steered clear of them as there are limitations involved (see Avoiding Shared Workbooks in Excel | Contextures Blog) and there have been suggestions of a significantly increased chance of file corruption.

If you really need several users updating information concurrently then perhaps a database (such as Access or even SharePoint) would be more suitable.

 

[Asala42]

Review->Share Workbook> check "Allow changes by more than one user at a time".

In earlier versions of excel I believe the option is under something like Tools->Share Workbook->Editing.

 

[Likeexcel]

thank you all for the suggestion. all great ideas.