You would need to capture the information immediately after a user opened the
file, otherwise the file could be opened, data copy, and the file closed
without saving. Include a special tab called "log". Enter the following
event macro in the wrokbook code area:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Sheets("log").Activate
If Range("A1").Value = "" Then
n = 1
Else
n = Cells(Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row + 1
End If
Cells(n, "A").Value = Environ("username")
Cells(n, "b").Value = Date
ActiveWorkbook.Save
Sheets("Sheet1").Activate
End Sub

Lets make sure its in the correct place.

Because it is workbook code, it is very easy to install and use:

1. right-click the tiny Excel icon just to the left of File on the Menu Bar
2. select View Code - this brings up a VBE window
3. paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the macro will be saved with it.

To remove the macro:

1. bring up the VBE windows as above
2. clear the code out
3. close the VBE window

To learn more about macros in general, see:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

To learn more about Event Macros (workbook code), see:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/event.htm

--
Gary''s Student - gsnu200834


"kj1977" wrote:

Is there any way to trace or log users who open an excel file on our shared
server? We have reason to believe that someone who we trust is passing
confidential infromation to outside sources about our business numbers and
would like to track who is in that file and when etc. Trying to sniff out a
rat basically.
Thanks in advance.