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#1
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Version Control
I am trying to ensure that all the users of a workbook are all using the same version as there are 10+ versions out there which look similar and do similar things but slightly different results and no joy asking people to just use the new version. I was thinking that something along the lines of a bit of code that compares a version number in the code with a number in a specific cell of a workbook on a shared drive and if they dont match a message box saying to use the current version then close the workbook. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Regards Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#2
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Version Control
Adrian,
One asks to ask, if you only want them to use the latest version, why not just delete the older versions? Another approach is to put your code in an add-in, store it on a shared drive, and then they can only use the latest. -- HTH RP (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct) "SandyUK" wrote in message ... I am trying to ensure that all the users of a workbook are all using the same version as there are 10+ versions out there which look similar and do similar things but slightly different results and no joy asking people to just use the new version. I was thinking that something along the lines of a bit of code that compares a version number in the code with a number in a specific cell of a workbook on a shared drive and if they dont match a message box saying to use the current version then close the workbook. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Regards Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#3
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Version Control
Hi Bob These workbooks were created by a predecessor and have been in use for 7 years and unfortunatly people have saved them all over the place. They calculate data which is then manually entered all over the place etc etc. I guess what i am saying is that I can't get to all the old versions to delete them and because they still work and people being people just have shortcuts etc they are not keen to delete them or see any point in upgrading (to them its a matter of a couple of pence per product which is not a big deal but in the overall scheme of things its getting towards the £1m mark). My company has issues with Add ins and at the moment are upgrading to 2003 (slowly) so even more problems keeping the add in available to all the machines (again easy enough to do but i am dealing with some users (across multiple locations that i can't get to) who would rather cut there own foot off than do anything "techie" then shout when they couldn't walk any more because they appear to be missing a foot). Suffice to say i am between a rock and a hard place. I need a self contained workbook which on start up will look to see if it the latest version and then display a message saying it isn't (if it isn't) but "if you go to X or call Y" they can get the latest version then close down (i know i will have to force people to enable macro's but i have that covered at the momet) Thanks for the reply, i am hoping yourself or someone out there has come across a similar situation and might be able to give me a few pointers. All the best Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#4
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Version Control
"SandyUK" wrote in message ... Hi Bob These workbooks were created by a predecessor and have been in use for 7 years and unfortunatly people have saved them all over the place. They calculate data which is then manually entered all over the place etc etc. I guess what i am saying is that I can't get to all the old versions to delete them and because they still work and people being people just have shortcuts etc they are not keen to delete them or see any point in upgrading (to them its a matter of a couple of pence per product which is not a big deal but in the overall scheme of things its getting towards the £1m mark). It would seem to me that if it is getting twiards the £1M mark, you have an irrefutabel business case. My company has issues with Add ins and at the moment are upgrading to 2003 (slowly) so even more problems keeping the add in available to all the machines (again easy enough to do but i am dealing with some users (across multiple locations that i can't get to) who would rather cut there own foot off than do anything "techie" then shout when they couldn't walk any more because they appear to be missing a foot). Whjy would they have issues with add-ins, but not VBA in the workbook. The former makes more sense than the latter, and is more controllable. Suffice to say i am between a rock and a hard place. I need a self contained workbook which on start up will look to see if it the latest version and then display a message saying it isn't (if it isn't) but "if you go to X or call Y" they can get the latest version then close down (i know i will have to force people to enable macro's but i have that covered at the momet) Do you mean separate from the multi-version workbook? What I am missing at the moment is how you will be able to amend all of these workbooks when you say you can't get to them all. If they were all named the same, you could install a new addin on each machine (same old problem her though) which has application events that monitor files being opened, if our offending workbook opens, you could dump the code and automatically load the up-to-date code. A dictator application if ever I heard one! |
#5
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Version Control
Hi Bob Thanks for the reply I have had a couple of days off (shift work) s couldn't get back to you straight away. I agree with all you are sayin Add Ins V VBA in the background the answer is that they don't realis what the VBA is doing in the background whilst the Add Ins are visabl there so scare them. I have been thinking about what you have replyed and so thought i woul ask advice of yourself and anybody who has been following the posts. I have inherited multiple versions of a costing workbook that cost products and which i need to update periodically however, the previou quotes that have been produced have to remain valid so i cannot jus link the workbook to a list of variables that make up the quote an update these as and when. What i would like to do is produce a stand alone workbook that woul produce quotes but when i need to change the variables new quotes coul not be produced using this old workbook. The user would be alerted tha they can no longer use this workbook and that they need a new quot template (I would love to just have a template which the users links t and i update, but i am not aware of a way of stopping a user saving thi template to a local drive etc. and hence have an old version floatin around that they can use to get a quote whilst still being able to sav quotes). Re reading this not sure it is going to make a lot of sense but though it would be rude not to reply especially as you had taken the time t try and help. If you can see what I am driving at and know of an articles i could read or have advice that would be appreciated. All the best Adria -- SandyU ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...fo&userid=1748 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=39086 |
#6
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Version Control
"SandyUK" wrote in message ... Thanks for the reply I have had a couple of days off (shift work) so couldn't get back to you straight away. I agree with all you are saying Add Ins V VBA in the background the answer is that they don't realise what the VBA is doing in the background whilst the Add Ins are visably there so scare them. Not impressed! Letting work get in the way of the NGs vbg. I have inherited multiple versions of a costing workbook that costs products and which i need to update periodically however, the previous quotes that have been produced have to remain valid so i cannot just link the workbook to a list of variables that make up the quote and update these as and when. Your idea of a template sounds good in this situatrion. What i would like to do is produce a stand alone workbook that would produce quotes but when i need to change the variables new quotes could not be produced using this old workbook. The user would be alerted that they can no longer use this workbook and that they need a new quote template (I would love to just have a template which the users links to and i update, but i am not aware of a way of stopping a user saving this template to a local drive etc. and hence have an old version floating around that they can use to get a quote whilst still being able to save quotes). How about this for an approach? Have some code in the template that just loads the master template, and clears that one. This way, you control what gets loaded. You still have a problem with any existing templates out there though.Unfortunately, you have this problem because you didn't anticipate that it could happen (not a criticism, just an observation), else you could have separated data, presentation and application, and not worried about the presentation layer. |
#7
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Version Control
Thanks for all the advice Bob I am going to give the whole situation some consideration and may have had a bit of a brainwave this morning. I think i am going to change the entire template layout and just reap the whirlwind of abuse that this will generate from the users (they will get over it) so that i can start from scratch with an obvious this is old and this is new situation. I will expire the version after X months but still make it available in read only mode, unload the copy command so they can't create a copy of the worksheet and keep using it (i have an incling of how to do it and know its possible but knowing something is possible and actually doing it is 2 different things :-) ). I a am also going to put a version number in the code possibly for later use if i figure out how to use it effectivly. I am relativly new to forums and don't know what "Not impressed! Letting work get in the way of the NGs vbg." means? Could you enlighten me? All the best Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#8
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Version Control
"SandyUK" wrote in
message ... I think i am going to change the entire template layout and just reap the whirlwind of abuse that this will generate from the users (they will get over it) so that i can start from scratch with an obvious this is old and this is new situation. I will expire the version after X months but still make it available in read only mode, unload the copy command so they can't create a copy of the worksheet and keep using it (i have an incling of how to do it and know its possible but knowing something is possible and actually doing it is 2 different things :-) ). I a am also going to put a version number in the code possibly for later use if i figure out how to use it effectivly. I think that is what I would so also. You are a victim of the situation, and you either stick with it and endure the problems, which you know in your heart is the wrong course, or you take the initial pain for the long-term gain. And with £1M savings as a target, it has to be worth it doesn't it? I am relativly new to forums and don't know what "Not impressed! Letting work get in the way of the NGs vbg." means? My bit of levity after you said that you had had a couple of days off (of the Newsgroups) due to shift work. <vbg means very big grin, trying to convey body language in text. Other forms are <g. <ebg extra big grin, and :-) smiley. BTW how does Adrian get to be SandyUK. I nearly called you Sandy at one stage :-) |
#9
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Version Control
Thanks for the info on abreviations. Adrian gets to be SandyUK because I am based in Sandy England and being new to news groups etc i wasn't sure i wanted to use my name. I have since found that its cool to do so and would make life easier as i have had a couple of people refer to me as Sandy. Take it easy Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#10
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Version Control
Well I have learnt something, didn't know about Sandy Beds before!
Bob "SandyUK" wrote in message ... Thanks for the info on abreviations. Adrian gets to be SandyUK because I am based in Sandy England and being new to news groups etc i wasn't sure i wanted to use my name. I have since found that its cool to do so and would make life easier as i have had a couple of people refer to me as Sandy. Take it easy Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#11
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Version Control
Cool, I aim to learn something new each day but at the moment its about 50 things (helped by the fact that i am spending an hour a day reading Proffesional Excel Development which i highly recomend). Where are you based Bob? Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#12
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Version Control
Me. I'm in Sunny Poole on the South Coast. Not as close as Norman, but not
far away. Bob "SandyUK" wrote in message ... Cool, I aim to learn something new each day but at the moment its about 50 things (helped by the fact that i am spending an hour a day reading Proffesional Excel Development which i highly recomend). Where are you based Bob? Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#13
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Version Control
Who's Norman I spent a year at Uni in Bournemouth so you can't pull the wool over m eyes its nice when its sunny but from what i remember its not sunny tha often <g Do you use Excel / write VBA for a living? If so is there a living t be made out of it? Regards Adria -- SandyU ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...fo&userid=1748 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=39086 |
#14
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Version Control
Norman is Norman Jones. I thought that he had answered one of your questions
and gave away his location, St Albans, but looking back it was another response. Poole is not Bournemouth, never was, never will be. Once upon a time we were even in separate counties, but Bournemouth got lonely and snuggled over to Dorset. But we don't talk about them. Poole is lovely, never rains, always sunny, ... No, I do not make a living out of Excel/VBA, although I do use it peripherally at work. There is a living to be made from it, there are people doing it, but I do not believe that it is a lucrative market. Regards Bob "SandyUK" wrote in message ... Who's Norman I spent a year at Uni in Bournemouth so you can't pull the wool over my eyes its nice when its sunny but from what i remember its not sunny that often <g Do you use Excel / write VBA for a living? If so is there a living to be made out of it? Regards Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
#15
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Version Control
Hi Bob & Sandy!!
I have just read this thread - quite amusing in parts. I have faced many similar problems (RE cutting your leg off rather than accepting something new), my most tedious was an office where we had to print 3 different coloured copies of each letter. But rather than using all three trays of the printer they made us change the paper for each colour!!! I would like to make a suggestion and apologise if Bob already suggested something similar that I mis-understood (my solution seems far too obvious) My suggestion would be to have two documents:- 1) The quotes excel sheet - with an additional version control sheet detailing the revision history. 2) A version control sheet Let say you have issued V1.0 of the quotes sheet and you issue a new version (V1.1). The quote sheet then checks the version from its revision history against the version control sheet and produces an error. Hmmmmmm just given it a bit more thought - I suppose the problem is the existing sheets dotted around on peoples desktops isn't it? How many users are you talking about? If you have got a smallish number it may be possible to determine that although you have 50 users there are only 10 different versions of the spreadsheet in population. These 10 code I mentioned earlier could have a list of file's that couldn't be openned as well (described by filename, size and location). I think you have 3 options 1) Cut off your own leg 2) Distribute a modified version of the existing sheet that links to a version control sheet managed by yourself 3) Start with a completely new solution I understand your difficulties with getting technophobes to accept new technology - so your problem is getting the staff to use anything new you give them - Ironically I think that would be easier with a completely new solution as although you would have to face the flack for a bit, at least people would be forced to use the new system. Sorry for not being brief. Andy "Bob Phillips" wrote in message ... Norman is Norman Jones. I thought that he had answered one of your questions and gave away his location, St Albans, but looking back it was another response. Poole is not Bournemouth, never was, never will be. Once upon a time we were even in separate counties, but Bournemouth got lonely and snuggled over to Dorset. But we don't talk about them. Poole is lovely, never rains, always sunny, ... No, I do not make a living out of Excel/VBA, although I do use it peripherally at work. There is a living to be made from it, there are people doing it, but I do not believe that it is a lucrative market. Regards Bob "SandyUK" wrote in message ... Who's Norman I spent a year at Uni in Bournemouth so you can't pull the wool over my eyes its nice when its sunny but from what i remember its not sunny that often <g Do you use Excel / write VBA for a living? If so is there a living to be made out of it? Regards Adrian -- SandyUK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SandyUK's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17487 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=390860 |
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