Excel file in SharePoint cannot be saved due to missing properties

Question

Issue description:
User opens an Excel from SharePoint in Excel desktop app. After checked out (the document library has "Required check out" enabled), user edits the file and closes the file to save. See error message and yellow banner of "REQUIRED PROPERTIES". Click "Go to Document Properties", there are no missing properties to be filled in.

We had several cases in the past. Usually the workaround is to:

• Download the file, rename it, upload to the site, and work on the new file.
• Or, remove the file under "Recent" list in Excel desktop app.
• Or, ask help from another site user who doesn't have the same issue

**Does anyone know what is the root cause? **

Other information:

• We are using SharePoint Online and Microsoft M365 subscription
• - The problem is for one document library in a site, not tenant wide
• The problem is for several users, not every site user has the problem
• The file can be edited and saved in Excel web version after checked out

Appreciate your help in advance!

Answer 1

Hi @Kate Meng ,

The issue is a design limitation of Excel.

Workaround:

You could save the file to your device, then upload the document to SharePoint using the SharePoint web user interface. This will allow the lookup property to be set. If you open the file later, Show details will allow you to set the property.

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