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You could build a macro that makes a Save As with the filename and date/time data into a specific folder! For instance, when you click a button it triggers a macro that saves your FileName.xls file like FileName130711_2147.xls into C:\Snaps folder.<br />
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Hope you understand the general idea.<br />
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jppinto
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We have a system on our network that creates a backup of files every three hours. The backups are accessed through Explorer. Right click on a file and select the Properties window. Within that I have a tab for previous versions. Don't know whether this is a standard feature or where it came from but sounds like this is what you need.<br />
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Cheers<br />
Rob H
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Thanks Rob but that sounds like you would then have to overwrite the existing file and they prefer to keep the previous versions.<br />
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jppinto - I'm no good at macros. Could you please suggest suitable code if the variables are as follows:<br />
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file we are interested in: &nbsp;z:\data\backlog\service.xl<wbr />s<br />
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folder to save snapshots: &nbsp;z:\data\backlog\<br />
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trigger: &nbsp;clicking the Save button in Excel (Ctrl+S)<br />
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And one last question - how do we create the macro in Excel ?<br />
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many thanks
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The system just keeps a 'shadow' copy for want of a better description. The original stays as is. Don't know how long the copy is kept for, presumably this would be configurable.<br />
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Thinking about the macro option, when doing a save as the user is then working on the new file not the original unless the macro closes the saved version and reopens the original. I have seen this done in a text file creation macro I wrote for a file I have whereby I create a text file from one sheet for upload into another program. When excel saves as a txt it only keeps the visible sheet and creates a text file with that one sheet. So having made a variable of the existing file name and path, the macro activates text sheet, saves as a txt format but still an open excel file as far as the macro is concerned, reopens the original, activates and closes the text file.<br />
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Would an extract of key data to a text file do what you need? If so required there could then be a macro to re-instate data from a text file.<br />
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I recall there was also an option in excel to create a backup copy of a file every time it is saved. I believe the directory of the backup defaults to the same location of the file but is adjustable and it probably overwrites previous backup so you would have only been able to go back one version.<br />
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Keep thinking!!<br />
Rob H
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Thanks for the input and sorry about the delay. <br />
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A method to save a separate copy of the file via a shortcut or command so that it could be opened in Excel is the preferred option.<br />
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I don't think that exporting to text and reimporting would be feasible as they are not technically minded.
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How do I close this as I don't think there is a solution ?
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As an afterthought…<br />
Depending on the security macro settings, the user may get prompted to “Enable Macros”<br />
If this an issue there are several solutions. Let me know and I can provide options.
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Will try this today and let you know
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a very useful piece of code
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Is it possible to reproduce the error condition where Excel 2003 saves temporary files as per attachment.<br />
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This is useful for a company that needs regular &quot;snapshots&quot; &nbsp;of a particular Excel 2003 file<br />
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Unusual request I know ! <a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2011/07_w29/478530/Temp-Files.jpg" target="_blank" title="Excel 2003 temp files (76 KB)"><img alt="Excel 2003 temp files" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 800px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2011/07_w29/478530/Temp-Files.jpg" /></a>
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Temp-Files.jpg

Is it possible to reproduce the error condition where Excel 2003 saves temporary files as per attachment.

This is useful for a company that needs regular "snapshots"  of a particular Excel 2003 file

Unusual request I know ! 

Excel 2003 - possible to save snapshots of file ?

Microsoft Excel topics include formulas, formatting, VBA macros and user-defined functions, and everything else related to the spreadsheet user interface, including error messages.