Microsoft KB Archive/130497

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL7: "File is locked" Error Saving Shared Workbook
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997

Article ID: Q130497

7.00 WINDOWS kbnetwork

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you save a shared workbook, you may receive the following error message:

File is locked. Please try again.

CAUSE
This behavior occurs when you save a shared workbook while the workbook file is being opened by another user. You also receive this error message if you make a file shared while another user is opening the file, because sharing forces you to save the file.

This behavior occurs because when you open a file in Microsoft Excel, the file is opened exclusively, whether the file is shared or not. After the file is opened, if the file is shared, the file is toggled to nonexclusive. If you attempt to save a file in Microsoft Excel while another user is opening the file (another instance of Microsoft Excel is still reading the same file), your instance of Microsoft Excel can't lock the file to save it, and you receive the error message described above.

RESOLUTION
To work around this problem, wait a few minutes (depending on the size of the file and how long it takes to open) and save the file again. As soon as the file is open on the other user's computer, you can successfully save the file without receiving this error message.