Read only indicator
 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create some sort of obvious
indicator/reminder (other than on the Excel window header) that states that a
workbook is currently in "read-only" mode? The idea is to prevent someone
from forgetting that the file is "read-only", making a bunch of changes to
it, only to later realize that their work can't be saved (without doing a
"save as" a different file name). i.e. a message window that appears when
typing?? watermark?? etc etc??

Thanks.

Read only indicator
 

nathan schreef:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create some sort of obvious
indicator/reminder (other than on the Excel window header) that states that a
workbook is currently in "read-only" mode? The idea is to prevent someone
from forgetting that the file is "read-only", making a bunch of changes to
it, only to later realize that their work can't be saved (without doing a
"save as" a different file name). i.e. a message window that appears when
typing?? watermark?? etc etc??

Thanks.
I's suggest to protect the worksheet. In that case users cannot edit
without unprotecting.

Bart Snel

Read only indicator
 

It's a long story but "protection" can't be used.

"Bart Snel" wrote:

nathan schreef:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create some sort of obvious
indicator/reminder (other than on the Excel window header) that states that a
workbook is currently in "read-only" mode? The idea is to prevent someone
from forgetting that the file is "read-only", making a bunch of changes to
it, only to later realize that their work can't be saved (without doing a
"save as" a different file name). i.e. a message window that appears when
typing?? watermark?? etc etc??

Thanks.
I's suggest to protect the worksheet. In that case users cannot edit
without unprotecting.

Bart Snel

Read only indicator
 

Try this:
Select the range from A1 thru the last cell most likely to be changed.

DataValidation
Allow: Custom
Formula: =ISBLANK(A1)

Select the Error Alert tab
Style: Warning
Title: REMINDER
Error Message: This workbook is read only
Click [OK]

That way....every time they try to change a cell, they are warned that the
wkbk is read-only.

Does that help?

***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP-Pro


"nathan" wrote:

It's a long story but "protection" can't be used.

"Bart Snel" wrote:

nathan schreef:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create some sort of obvious
indicator/reminder (other than on the Excel window header) that states that a
workbook is currently in "read-only" mode? The idea is to prevent someone
from forgetting that the file is "read-only", making a bunch of changes to
it, only to later realize that their work can't be saved (without doing a
"save as" a different file name). i.e. a message window that appears when
typing?? watermark?? etc etc??

Thanks.
I's suggest to protect the worksheet. In that case users cannot edit
without unprotecting.

Bart Snel

Read only indicator
 

Thanks, that is a great idea and almost works. It is less than ideal because
this warning will appear regardless of the read-only/read-write status of the
file. There are constant changes being made to the file by multiple people
so this warning would come up all the time even in read-write and be
cumbersome. (for various reasons we can't use sharing, so people are always
switching in and out of read-only, and only one person at a time is
read-write. so, you can see how easy it is for someone to forget they are in
read-only and make changes).

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

Try this:
Select the range from A1 thru the last cell most likely to be changed.

DataValidation
Allow: Custom
Formula: =ISBLANK(A1)

Select the Error Alert tab
Style: Warning
Title: REMINDER
Error Message: This workbook is read only
Click [OK]

That way....every time they try to change a cell, they are warned that the
wkbk is read-only.

Does that help?

***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP-Pro


"nathan" wrote:

It's a long story but "protection" can't be used.

"Bart Snel" wrote:

nathan schreef:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create some sort of obvious
indicator/reminder (other than on the Excel window header) that states that a
workbook is currently in "read-only" mode? The idea is to prevent someone
from forgetting that the file is "read-only", making a bunch of changes to
it, only to later realize that their work can't be saved (without doing a
"save as" a different file name). i.e. a message window that appears when
typing?? watermark?? etc etc??

Thanks.
I's suggest to protect the worksheet. In that case users cannot edit
without unprotecting.

Bart Snel