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scott scott is offline
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Default Version Control on Excel Databases

Hello,

I have a shared database set up in Excel where approximately 30 users
contribute data, weekly. Each user has a specific (and unique to others)
record they are responsible for. The database is set up on a shared LAN
drive. Each user has been instructed to update the database "in-place".
That is, not to take a copy of it, update their record and resave the entire
file back to the original location. This is obviously to maintain security
and version control.

Recently, we've heard complaints from some users that their data entered the
prior week "reverted" back to old data. A couple of reasons for this come to
mind:
1. The user did not save the workbook when they finished entering data.
2. A user did not update the database "in-place" and thus overwrote other's
records and possibily old data.
3. Some technical problem with excel and shared workbooks unknown to me?
4. Others perhaps?

Question regarding # 2. How do I prevent a user from saving a copy,
updating the record and rewriting of the database back to its location?

Regards