Excel fails to open XSLX file if marked read-only

Ludwig

Board Regular
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
80
Office Version
  1. 365
Platform
  1. Windows
I have a "template" XLSX file I use which is stored on OneDrive. Occasionally I forget I've opened the template so save the (week's timesheet) into it .. oops!

So I change the Template file in OneDrive on my desktop to be read-only (Alt-Enter and tick the "read-only" box, & press OK).

But now I find Excel 2016 refuses to open the file! Well, it does open - it displays it but also present a error message with only an "OK" option. This says -

Sorry, we couldn't open 'https://d.docs.live.net/456etc/Documents/foldername/TEMPLATE filename.xlsx'. The moment I press the "OK" Excel closes. If I don't mark the file read-only, then it happily opens and allows me to edit it (but then I can write my data into the "TEMPLATE..." file, which I don't want to do.

Is this behaviour expected of OneDrive? Seems a weird restriction. Is there a way around this (without using VBA, which wouldn't work with Excel Online of course).
 

Excel Facts

Will the fill handle fill 1, 2, 3?
Yes! Type 1 in a cell. Hold down Ctrl while you drag the fill handle.

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