Spreadsheet Versioning

[Waltlanta]

I noticed in MS Word, under File in the Menu Bar, there is a "Versioning" feature. From what I understand, it will allow you to keep different iterations of a document (say, from your Draft version all the way to your Final version).

Anybody know if Excel has something similar?

 

[Greg Truby]

I have never seen it. FWIW, looks like versioning was removed from Word 2007.

 

[Smitty]

Welcome to the Board!

Save as v.1, v.1a, ,etc.

That's what I do to keep track of various scenarios anyway.

 

[Waltlanta]

Thanks guys. Interesting they removed this [versioning] feature from Word '07. And Yes, probably the simplest solution is adding a sequential suffix to the file name (which is our current practice-obvious risk existing with using a Save versus Save As).

Mr. Excel has every right to brag on these forums because you guys are definitely quick. Thanks again.

 

[Smitty]

You can use VBA to prompt for a version change as well.

Take a look in the VBA helpfile for the BeforeSave event. When it fires you can prompt the user if they want to version the current workbook or not. It's not foolproof, but it is better than nothing.

 

[Greg Truby]

For a simple worksheet/template, you might entertain the notion of keeping a version number in the comments or create a custom property. You can then have code in the WB or an add-in that compares this custom property's value with a text file out on a network drive and pop a message to the user that a newer version has been released.

For add-ins which tend to be much more complex, I will frequently have a change history worksheet where I log major (and some minor) changes along with timestamps. I then keep a backup folder where I just add the YYYYMMDD HHMM to the filename and save before I start in on a major change.