XL: Delete Permissions Required to Save File on Network Server

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you save a workbook to a network share the following messages may appear:

Microsoft Excel 7.0

   Document saved as <Temporary file name>.
   Cannot rename to <File name>. You must close this document.

Microsoft Excel 97

   The file \\<Server>\<Share>\<File name> already exists. Do you want
   to replace the existing file?

If you click Yes, the following message appears:

   The system cannot find the file specified.

These errors appear even if you did not previously save the file to the network share.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because you do not have delete (D) permissions in the destination network directory.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft Excel requires delete (D) permissions in order to save a file to the destination directory. In Microsoft Windows NT, file permissions must be set to Read, Write, and Delete (RWD), and directory permissions must be set to Read and Write (RW). These permissions are the minimum required to save files to a shared directory under Microsoft Windows NT.

MORE INFORMATION

When Microsoft Excel saves a file, it first saves the file to a temporary file in the destination directory. If Microsoft Excel successfully saves the temporary file, the file is then renamed to the file name you specify in the Save As dialog box. Microsoft Excel uses this method of saving files in order to preserve the original contents of the file as a backup should the save operation fail.