Forum Discussion
Excel - disable "edit anyway" for read-only file
It sounds like you're using "read only recommended". You need a 'password to modify'.
File | Save As window | Tools | General Options | Password to modify
thank you for the response. but i don't want them to need a password to use the spreadsheet (to modify the contents of cells), i just don't want them to be able to save those modifications to the same file name.
If you specify a "password to modify", users can still open the workbook without needing the password. In that situation, the workbook will be read-only for them without an option to edit, just like you want.
But those who need to edit the workbook will have to provide the password.
- Thank you for your comment. But I think perhaps I am not explaining my problem very well. I WANT them to be able to edit the workbook; i just don't want them to be able to save their edited version over my original.
When my users open the workbook, they get the yellow warning at the top "to prevent accidental changes, the author has set this file to open as read-only," with the "Edit Anyway" box next to it. If they hit "edit anyway", then they can edit the workbook (like I want them to) but their changes are auto-saved on OneDrive. If they IGNORE the "edit anyway" button or hit "X" at the top right of the yellow warning message, then everything works exactly like I want it to. They can edit the cells of the workbook (like I want), but it does not auto-save, and when they close out of the workbook they get a prompt asking them if they want to save. They can save it, but it forces them to change the name. I want them to be able to edit, i just don't want them to save any changes to my original file. Thanks again for your help.When the user opens the document as read only, they can still edit the workbook.'But trying to save the workbook will cause Excel to display a warning:
After that, the Save As dialog will be displayed.
Another option would be to save the workbook as an Excel template. Excel will then create a new copy when the user double-clicks the template.
