Forum Discussion
Force user to SAVEAS
I have a file to put in a shared folder. It served as a template for others. Other users may open and write the file but I don't want them to save the "template" file. Is there a way to prevent them save changes in the "template" file? Thanks a lot.
Hi Man Fai Chan
Good to hear you have some ideas to go forward with.
Out of curiousity, is your network file saved as an Excel Macro-enabled template (*.xltm)?
Cheers
Damien
12 Replies
Mr. Chan
The recommendation of Mr. Rosario is what I have been doing to prevent my templates from being written over.
However, if the user (with bad intention) knows the trick to change it in the file properties - no one can stop that!
Maybe what you are asking is a vba to do that protection. I wonder, if there is...
MVP's.. anyone?
- Thanks for your thoughts, Lorenzo.
Man Fai Chan would only need to do the VBA route if people are purposefully change the template.
I suspect it's more about users accidently editing it versus purposefully changing it which isn't hard to do.
If it is on purpose then people are being very naughty!
Cheers
Damien- Mr. Rosario,
Thanks for the info. May I request for that VBA - force a SAVEAS.
many many thanks
- actually, I had been searching the net for forced SAVEAS - but no luck.. still, I think there is a code for that.
Hi Man Fai Chan
If the shared folder is on SharePoint or OneDrive, you can choose to give READ only access to the template file.
This will stop people from editing the original template but they can still get access to a copy (template) of the file to use as required.
If you need to set the permissions to do that. Find the file on OneDrive or SharePoint online, you can click Share and configure the settings, or view the details of the file and change the file permissions.
If your file is stored locally on a file drive, then you can right click onto the file > Properties > Security tab to change file permissions.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Damien
It might be a forum violation - so I am making my own conversation....
topic = SAVEAS
thank you
Thanks Kim's and Rosario's reply.
The file is saved in a networked drive, so that I cannot use the ONE DRIVE/SHAREPOINT. The file is a form for others to complete and then submit to the person-in-charge. I actually made macro to check if they completed the form or not.
Thanks for you two to inspire me the following code:
Private Sub Workbook_BeforeSave(ByVal SaveAsUI As Boolean, Cancel As Boolean)
If SaveAsUI Then
Else
If ThisWorkbook.Name = "Template.xlsb" Then
x = InputBox("This is the template file, you need password to save")
If x <> "CORRECTPASSWORD" Then
Cancel = True
Else
Cancel = False
End If
Else
Cancel = fasle
End If
End If
End SubThe use of "CORRECTPASSWORD" is actually a way for me (as the writer) to save file. However, I found that the user can still SAVEAS the template file and overwrite it in the save-window.
