XL: AutoSave Preferences Not Saved on Network

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

If you run Microsoft Excel from a network, you may receive either of the following error messages:

   If you are using Microsoft Excel for Windows
   --------------------------------------------

   AUTOSAVE.XLA is read-only. AutoSave preferences not saved

   -or-

   If you are using Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh
   --------------------------------------------------

   AUTO SAVE is read-only. AutoSave preferences not saved.

To work around this problem, follow the appropriate method for your version of Microsoft Excel.

Method 1: Microsoft Excel version 4.0 for Windows

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Copy ALTSTART.XLA, AUTOSAVE.XLA, FILEFNS.DLL to your path or to a directory to which you have read/write permission.

2. On the File menu, click Open and change to the LIBRARY directory.

3. Select ALTSTART.XLA, and click OK.

   The file will be opened as a hidden file and will prompt you for a path pointing to a different default directory that can be located either on the local hard disk drive or on a network drive. The alternate startup directory should be a directory to which you have read/write permission.

4. Copy any necessary templates from the <drive>:\EXCEL\XLSTART directory (where <drive> is a network drive) to the new default directory.

5. Save the GLOBAL.XLM file to the new default directory.

Method 2: Microsoft Excel Version 4.0 for the Macintosh

To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Copy ALTERNATE STARTUP FOLDER, AUTO SAVE, and FILE FUNCTIONS to your path or to a folder to which you have read/write permission.

2. On the File menu, click Open, and change to the MACRO LIBRARY folder.

3. Select ALTERNATE STARTUP FOLDER and click OK.

   The file will be opened as a hidden file. You will be prompted to enter a path pointing to a different default directory that can be located either on the local hard disk drive or on a network drive. The alternate startup directory should be a directory to which you have read/write permission.

4. Copy any necessary templates from the EXCEL STARTUP FOLDER to the new default directory.

5. Save the GLOBAL MACROS file to the new default directory.