Shared Workbook Over Email

[tannerjay]

I am curious if shared workbooks would work if only passing the shared file around by email. I work for a company that has a central office and 2-5 employees working at home or outside the office, adding and changing one excel workbook file. We all make changes at different times but periodically(once or twice a week) need the file to contain everyones changes.
At this time, we do not have an network accesible outside of the central office. The time I spend comparing my saved copy with everyone elses copies is way too time consuming. Is sharing the workbook and tracking the changes my answer? I not at all familiar with this feature of excel. And I sure don't know if this will work by simply passing the file around by email?
Could someone lead me in the right direction? Thanks.

 

[BrianB]

A Shared workbook is one kept on a server where several people can work on it at one time. As with most complicated technology this is not 100% reliable depending on server conditions etc.

There is another method we use here where we can all access a file on the server but only one person can be making changes at any one time. Anyone else can open the file but only Read Only.

Without a server you are restricted to the method you have.
There are ways of comparing two worksheets.

One simple method I have used is to have a third worksheet with a formula like this copied across and down from cell A1

=[Book1.xls]Sheet1!$A$1-[Book2.xls]Sheet1!$A$1

so any differences show up on this sheet.

 

[tannerjay]

Brian,

Thanks so much for the advice. I would have never thought of that. I really appreciate it. Tanner