Forum Discussion
Sharepoint - Prevent a new version each time a document is read
Hello, i am using Library in sharepoint for managing documentation using version and simultaneous collaboration on Word and Excel file. This is great. However, there is a drawback : each time someone...
Configure Always Open Read‑Only by Default in MS Office Files
Steps to configure:
- Once all edits are complete, open the document (either in Browser or in App). You can configure it whichever way you prefer. I personally always open documents in the App.
- Go to File > Info > Protect Document / Presentation etc.
- Select Always Open Read‑Only.
- Close the file, and reopen it to see the changes
Result:
- The document will always open in read‑only mode, regardless of the user’s permissions.
- If the user has edit rights, they will see an “Edit anyway” button to make changes.
NOTE:
- Asking users to download for reading or forcing check‑out isn’t practical.
- Include this step-in user training so staff know how to avoid accidental edits.
- If you are using templates to create documents, apply this setting to the template itself.
- All new documents created from the template will inherit the read‑only property automatically.
- This approach balances protection against accidental edits with flexibility for authorized changes.
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