Here's the issue:
I work on a 3K spreadsheet that is shared. At any given point in time, there are 3-4 users logged in. The cells are formatted with either text color, cell color, italics, bold, date and/or time. This information is all used to communicate at a glance the status of the orders.
The first issue: We've noticed that if User1 opens the spreadsheet and User2 opens it, the formatting will not match. If U1 shows cell A13 as red, U2 may show it with no color. If User3 opens it up, they might find a totally different color scheme to random cells. If U1 corrects the cell colors and then hits Save, this may or may not be reflected for the other two users. However, if U1 changes a cell that is otherwise unaffected for U2 and U3, the result will be reflected upon saving.
The second issue: The above has been going on for months. Today a new issue popped up. Excel is randomly deleting data in the same file. My coworker and I happened to be looking at an order and talking about it from separate workstations. He had made updates and hit Save. Immediately the order disappeared from his worksheet (same Shared worksheet mentioned above). I then hit Save and it didn't immediately disappear until a couple of Saves later.
The third issue: Same file, 3k, and it's not getting any better. After turning on Tracking Changes (me thinking he was jacking with the spreadsheet) I noticed that changes were showing made, but what was in the cell was not matching the change noted. Example, the change shows cell A13 went from 'blank' to 'y'. The cell is still visually blank. This was happening repeatedly on all tabs.
Issue number four: I recommend Captain and Coke. Now as I browse trying to figure out the 'user error' that IT keeps informing me of, I'm seeing that random cells have repeated text from the column. So as to say, if the data ends on row 14, there is similar text in row 17 that would be applicable to the column it's in. Ex. if Column N is either Y or N, N17 will randomly insert one of the two and it might be the only cell in the row or column to have data. It gets better when the Tracking Changes shows that I PUT IT THERE!
IT Solutions (honest to God) and results:
1. Reboot - same
2. Exit out and open - Seriously? See issue 1-4.
3. User error - verified it is NOT that
4. IT opens file - Excel crashes and/or file won't open (there's a thought for you)
5. Someone is making changes - Solution ignored
6. Let's make a backup copy and use that - Brilliant, isn't that like the Chaos Theory?
7. Let's make another copy and take out all the hidden formatting - reduced file to 2K
8. Why aren't you using the second copy - See #6
9. It must be a converter issue - we're ALL ON 2003!
10. The file must be corrupt due to a virus - you clean/scheduled maintanence all the computers once a month for malware and viruses. None have been reported on any of the workstations involved - oh wait, the IT director had something like 6 on his...sorry, I've digressed.
Final solution...wait for it....wait for it...
IT copies a master file and discourages use of any formatting. States that it will keep the file smaller (because 3k was too big?). Therefore there should be no more issues.
Guys, I'm not computer savvy, HOWEVER last I checked, isn't all of that what Excel was built to do?
Why is Excel 2003 doing what it's doing, is there a fix/preventative? How can I check to see if the file is corrupt and or what is corrupting it? Is this something that is common with Shared files?
This is a critical worksheet that nobody messes with and we are meticulous with. One workstation uploads the orders, another moves/deletes/colors/enters data, another inputs one column.
Help...
I work on a 3K spreadsheet that is shared. At any given point in time, there are 3-4 users logged in. The cells are formatted with either text color, cell color, italics, bold, date and/or time. This information is all used to communicate at a glance the status of the orders.
The first issue: We've noticed that if User1 opens the spreadsheet and User2 opens it, the formatting will not match. If U1 shows cell A13 as red, U2 may show it with no color. If User3 opens it up, they might find a totally different color scheme to random cells. If U1 corrects the cell colors and then hits Save, this may or may not be reflected for the other two users. However, if U1 changes a cell that is otherwise unaffected for U2 and U3, the result will be reflected upon saving.
The second issue: The above has been going on for months. Today a new issue popped up. Excel is randomly deleting data in the same file. My coworker and I happened to be looking at an order and talking about it from separate workstations. He had made updates and hit Save. Immediately the order disappeared from his worksheet (same Shared worksheet mentioned above). I then hit Save and it didn't immediately disappear until a couple of Saves later.
The third issue: Same file, 3k, and it's not getting any better. After turning on Tracking Changes (me thinking he was jacking with the spreadsheet) I noticed that changes were showing made, but what was in the cell was not matching the change noted. Example, the change shows cell A13 went from 'blank' to 'y'. The cell is still visually blank. This was happening repeatedly on all tabs.
Issue number four: I recommend Captain and Coke. Now as I browse trying to figure out the 'user error' that IT keeps informing me of, I'm seeing that random cells have repeated text from the column. So as to say, if the data ends on row 14, there is similar text in row 17 that would be applicable to the column it's in. Ex. if Column N is either Y or N, N17 will randomly insert one of the two and it might be the only cell in the row or column to have data. It gets better when the Tracking Changes shows that I PUT IT THERE!
IT Solutions (honest to God) and results:
1. Reboot - same
2. Exit out and open - Seriously? See issue 1-4.
3. User error - verified it is NOT that
4. IT opens file - Excel crashes and/or file won't open (there's a thought for you)
5. Someone is making changes - Solution ignored
6. Let's make a backup copy and use that - Brilliant, isn't that like the Chaos Theory?
7. Let's make another copy and take out all the hidden formatting - reduced file to 2K
8. Why aren't you using the second copy - See #6
9. It must be a converter issue - we're ALL ON 2003!
10. The file must be corrupt due to a virus - you clean/scheduled maintanence all the computers once a month for malware and viruses. None have been reported on any of the workstations involved - oh wait, the IT director had something like 6 on his...sorry, I've digressed.
Final solution...wait for it....wait for it...
IT copies a master file and discourages use of any formatting. States that it will keep the file smaller (because 3k was too big?). Therefore there should be no more issues.
Guys, I'm not computer savvy, HOWEVER last I checked, isn't all of that what Excel was built to do?
Why is Excel 2003 doing what it's doing, is there a fix/preventative? How can I check to see if the file is corrupt and or what is corrupting it? Is this something that is common with Shared files?
This is a critical worksheet that nobody messes with and we are meticulous with. One workstation uploads the orders, another moves/deletes/colors/enters data, another inputs one column.
Help...
