Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Sharing Excel Workbooks using FTP

Colo writes:

Basically, to share the files like in a LAN environment, you need a LAN network.However, when the distances between bases is away, it costs a huge for the installation of LAN net work. So generally, a software for sharing files would be used. But there is a way to do this without extra cost if you have your web space (Intranet or Internet). You can upload Excel workbook and you can share the files using FTP location folder. In this page, I would introduce you how to make a FTP Location folder and how to use it to share files. No VBA code necessary.

I have noticed some issues with sharing workbooks on a LAN. The most obvious one is the version control issue; that is whose changes are saved when these may conflict?

However some other issues I have found in the last couple of weeks include the inability to edit comments while in shared mode, even if there are no other users using the file, and also the inability to edit pictures other objects while it is in shared mode. My solution initially was to unshare the workbook, and then make the changes, which then worked. However this seems like a pretty sillay way to solve it.
Does anybody out there know any other way to make these types of changes without having to remove sharing?

Also if you have a go at Colo's shared workbook or are able to create your own share using FTP then please write your findings and thoughts in the comments here, or email me if you are on the email list.


Posted by: Jethro | 2:04 PM |