Excel $ Temp file sometimes not creating

Question

I've had some users report to me that sometimes they are opening an Excel file and working in the file and sometimes another user can open the same file go in and make edits and then they are left with 2 files with separate work completed and one of the users will have to save their copy elsewhere and this results in users having to copy the work from one Excel to the other. Most of the time they will get locked out telling them another user has access but sometimes they will not get this message and can get into the file.

I think I can see is that when they open the file it creates a hidden $ file and when the user saved and closes this $ will go. I'm guessing this file is sometimes not creating which is resulting in 2 users being able to access the same file at the same time.

Is there any fix I can implement to stop this happening?

Answer 1

Hi Jordan,

I suppose you are using the legacy shared workbook feature via Review > Share Workbook. please check the link, see if you are experiencing the same thing.

network drive - Why duplicate excel files are created when saving a shared file - Stack Overflow

***Third-party link disclaimer:***Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites, or any support related to technology.

If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber and if it is convenient and suits your requirement, we highly recommend co-authoring, which is the replacement for Shared Workbooks.

Regards,

Neha

Answer 2

HI Tin,

It's saved on a file server so it's a shared network drive.

Thanks,

Jordan

Answer 3

Hi Jordan Brown (jbrown)：

Could you please tell me the path where the file is stored?

If the file is stored in SharePoint or OneDrive, allow users to collaborate and edit together. At this point, if a user disconnects from the network, a new copy will be uploaded after saving.

Best regards,

Tin