Restricting multiple instances of same worksheet in "networked" environments.

Hi,

I am currently working with a group using shared folders in dropbox. There is no functionality within drop box to stop conflicting workbooks. Ie if I open and change and another person does at the same time two copies are created. I know there is functionality within excel to collaborate and share. However this still has its limitations in that if I make changes to 100cells in a day, the other user will have to review every cell.

Is there a way to limit the workbook to only be opened once in this shared environment (ie different computers)?

Thanks
BridgeCat

Excel will prompt if the file is already open by another user, can't you use this and tell your users that they can't use the document if it comes up with this prompt?

Excel is not designed for multiple users and the sharing feature is rubbish and leads to nothing but problems. Workarounds are generally having each user owning their own copy with code to save changes to a central workbook that no user directly uses.

The the most reliable and scalable option however would be to use a database as that's what they are designed for

Yea because the file is saved on dropbox, this somehow subverts the excel prompt telling you that it is already open by another user. I think your suggestion with the database will be the way to go as each user having their own copy and saving changes to central workbook I think will just become to messy.

Thanks :D