Microsoft KB Archive/130560

= XL: Commands and Features Unavailable in Shared Workbook =

Article ID: 130560

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q130560



SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you use the shared lists feature, by clicking the Allow Multi-User Editing check box on the Editing tab of the Shared Lists dialog box, some of the commands and features that you normally use in your workbook are not available.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because when you share a workbook file, you cannot use some of the Microsoft Excel features that you normally use. This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel because of the way that a shared file is saved. For example, you cannot change cell formatting in a shared workbook.



MORE INFORMATION
The following information describes the features and commands that are not available while you are editing a shared workbook.

Menu Commands
The following table contains the menu commands that are unavailable (grayed) in a shared workbook:   Menu       Command --  File       Properties

Edit      Delete Sheet Links Object Insert    Worksheet Chart (submenu items grayed) Macro (submenu items grayed) Function Name (submenu items grayed) Picture Map Object Hyperlink (available in Excel 97 and later) Format    Cells AutoFormat Style Tools     Scenarios Protection (submenu items grayed) Data      Subtotals Table Group And Outline (submenu items grayed) PivotTable

Toolbars
You cannot use any of the buttons on the following toolbars in a shared workbook:   Formatting Forms Drawing Chart On the Standard toolbar, the following buttons are disabled:   AutoSum Function Wizard ChartWizard Map Format Painter

Formulas
When you enter a formula on a worksheet in a shared workbook, you receive the following error message:

New or copied formulas won't be saved while the file is being shared.

Show this message in the future?

Objects
You can't select any objects on a worksheet in a shared workbook. This includes OLE objects, drawing objects, and dialog controls.

Visual Basic Modules
When you share a workbook that contains a Visual Basic module, you receive the following error message:

Cannot edit VBA modules in shared mode

You can select a Visual Basic module in your shared workbook. However, if you attempt to edit a procedure in the module, you receive the following error message:

Can't edit module

Note however that you can run a macro on a module sheet in a shared workbook.

Record New Macro
If you record a new macro in a shared workbook, the macro is recorded in a new workbook. In the Record New Macro dialog box, the New Workbook option under Store In is selected by default. The This Workbook option under Store In is unavailable in a shared workbook.

Chart Sheet or Dialog Sheet
Although you can select a chart sheet or dialog sheet in a shared workbook, you cannot select any of the items on the chart or custom dialog box.

Macro Sheet
You can select a macro sheet in a shared workbook. However, because commands on a macro sheet generally begin with an equal sign (=) (as when you enter a formula), you receive the error message listed above in the "Formulas" section. Note, however, that you can run a macro from a macro sheet in a shared workbook.

Additional query words: greyed grey gray XL2000 XL97

Keywords: kbprb KB130560

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