XL5: "Filename Reserved by XL 95 Users" When Workbook Opened

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, when you open a workbook that was previously saved in Microsoft Excel version 7.0 with the "Allow Multi-User Editing" option turned on, you will receive the following message

   '<filename>' is reserved by XL 95 users. Open Read Only!
   Enter password for write access, or open read only.

The file can still be opened by clicking the Read Only button. However, if you type a password in the Password box, the password will be considered invalid.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the workbook that you are opening was saved from Microsoft Excel version 7.0 as a shared file with "Allow Multi-User Editing." Because Microsoft Excel version 5.0 does not support sharing files between multiple users at the same time, you receive the error message.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Method 1

If you are using Microsoft Excel version 7.0 for Windows 95, open the file in Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and re-save the workbook with "Allow Multi- User Editing" disabled. To do this, click Share Lists on the File menu. Select the Editing tab and clear the Allow Multi-User Editing check box.

Method 2

Open the file in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 as a read-only document. Then, save the file with a different name.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is by design. The password dialog box prevents the file from being opened with write access privileges.

Allowing multiple users to edit a single file at the same time is a new feature of Microsoft Excel version 7.0. Information is stored with the file so that changes can be tracked and conflicts resolved between users. Microsoft Excel version 5.0 cannot handle this type of information; therefore, you are unable to open this type of file with write access.

REFERENCES

For more information about Shared Lists, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel 7.0 Help, type the following text

   shared lists