Microsoft KB Archive/161445

= OFF97: Errors Appear When Dragging Files into a Briefcase =

Article ID: 161445

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95a
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0c
 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 97 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q161445



SYMPTOMS
When you drag a Microsoft Excel workbook into a briefcase, you may receive the following error message:

Update Briefcase

' ' will not be updated because its merge handler cannot be loaded.

When you drag a Microsoft Office 97 Binder file into a briefcase, you may receive either of the following error messages:

Update Briefcase

' ' will not be updated because its merge handler cannot be loaded.

-or-

Microsoft Office Binder Reconciler

The binder could not be saved.

The disk is write-protected.

When you drag a Microsoft Access 97 database into a briefcase, you may receive either of the following error messages:

Briefcase

Briefcase can't open the database ' '.

The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file ' '.

It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data.

-or-

Briefcase

Briefcase can't open the database ' '.

Couldn't lock file.

NOTE: In these error messages, is the name of the file you are attempting to drag into a briefcase.



CAUSE
These problems may occur when any of the following conditions are true:
 * The file you are dragging is stored on a network share to which you have only read-only access.


 * The read-only attribute for the file you are dragging is enabled.


 * The Office 97 Binder or Microsoft Access 97 database files you are dragging is stored on a disk that is write-protected (the tab is open).


 * You are dragging a Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 workbook into a briefcase on a machine where Microsoft Excel 97 is installed.



RESOLUTION
To prevent these problems from occurring, use the following appropriate method before you drag the file into a briefcase:

Method 1: Copy the File to Another Location
If the file is stored on a read-only network share or a write- protected disk, copy the file to a location to which you have write access (for example, your local hard drive, or a network share to which you have full or write permissions). Then, drag the file from the new location into the briefcase.

Method 2: Obtain Permission to Write to the Network Share
If the file is stored on a read-only network share, check with your network administrator to see whether you can obtain permission to write to the share. After you obtain permission, drag the file into the briefcase.

Method 3: Close the Tab on the Disk
If the file is stored on a write-protected disk, close the tab on the disk. Then, drag the file from the disk into the briefcase.

Method 4: Clear the Read-Only Attribute for the File
If the read-only attribute for the file is selected, clear it. To do this in Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, use the following steps:
 * 1) In Windows Explorer, select the file by clicking it once.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Properties.
 * 3) Clear (uncheck) the Read-only check box. Then, click OK.

NOTE: If the file is stored on a read-only network share or a write- protected disk, you must first copy the file to another location.

After you turn off the read-only attribute for the file, drag the file into the briefcase.

Method 5: Save the Workbook in the Microsoft Excel 97 Format
If the workbook is saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 format, open the workbook in Microsoft Excel 97 and save it in the Microsoft Excel 97 format by clicking Save As on the File menu, selecting "Microsoft Excel Workbook" in the Save As Type list, and clicking Save.

Once the workbook is saved in the Microsoft Excel 97 format, you should be able to drag it into the briefcase.



STATUS
This behavior is by design of the programs listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft Office 97 includes a feature that allows you to reconcile files in a briefcase. This feature allows the briefcase to make changes to both the original copy of a file and the updated copy of a file at the same time.

To use this feature, you must have write permission to the file when you drag it into a briefcase. If you have permission, you receive one of the error messages in this article, and the file in the briefcase is not updated correctly.

Additional query words: OFF97 XL97 XL7 XL5 AC97

Keywords: kbprb KB161445

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.