How To Collaborate with Microsoft Excel on a Shared Drive
- Open either a Blank Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, or one that already exists on a shared network drive.
- Once fully opened (grid is shown), click “Review” at the top in the ribbon.
- Next, click “Share Workbook”
- Then you’ll need to “check” the checkbox next to “Allow changes by more than one user at the same time. This also allows workbook merging.”
- While this dialog box is still open, go ahead and head over to the “Advanced” tab at the top.
- I recommend leaving all of these settings “As Is” except the “Update changes” section.
- I recommend changing this to “Update changes -> Automatically every: 5 minutes”
- Press “OK” to close the dialog box.
- I recommend leaving all of these settings “As Is” except the “Update changes” section.
- If you opened a new workbook, you’ll be asked to save this workbook.
- Pick a location, and a filename, and press “Save”.
- If you opened an existing workbook, you’ll be prompted with a new dialog box:
- “This action will now save the workbook. Do you want to continue?”
- Obviously, you’ll press the “OK” button.
- “This action will now save the workbook. Do you want to continue?”
- When you’re done saving the file, you should now notice “[Shared]” has been added behind the filename in the titlebar (top, center of window).
- This is the indicator that the workbook you’re in has been setup for sharing.