Dear Experts,
I have an excel spreadsheet in which I want different users to put data. I have primarily 1 main user but there will be 1 or 2 others who will use the spreadsheet for different purposes to the main user (print reports based on the main users data or simply to confirm that the first users data is correct).
I have set up a number of macros for the main user and he will be entering quite a lot of data throughout each day so he could have the spreadsheet open (and therefore unavailable) to the other user for extended periods. I cant allow the other users to use the read only option in all cases as I need some data from them somtimes. The users put data in specific unlocked cells and presses a button and then the macro puts the data in a hidden database sheet. From this point of view, I have a lot of control over what the users do and see.
No user should ever be using the same cells as each other (they will each have their own sheets) and so there should be no problem with 2 people making changes at the same time to the same cell.
I have seen on this site recommendations from experts not to use the excel sharing tool as the file can be corrupted. I am trying to understand if this tool is so bad that it should never be used or is it that it can be used safely in some circumstances. The data is fairly important and so i dont want to lose it although I have a macro to save backups after every data entry.
Can you advise to the risks I am taking if I go down this route and can you suggest a solution if sharing the sheet is not viable.
I realise that Access might be a better solution than Excel but I know nothing about Access and am quite experienced with Excel so I have tried to avoid Access up to this point.
I have no experience or knowledge on networks or sharing files of any sort up to this point!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Willy
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