Excel fails to open XSLX file if marked read-only

Ludwig

Board Regular
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Messages
93
Office Version
  1. 365
Platform
  1. Windows
I have a "template" XLSX file I use which is stored on OneDrive. Occasionally I forget I've opened the template so save the (week's timesheet) into it .. oops!

So I change the Template file in OneDrive on my desktop to be read-only (Alt-Enter and tick the "read-only" box, & press OK).

But now I find Excel 2016 refuses to open the file! Well, it does open - it displays it but also present a error message with only an "OK" option. This says -

Sorry, we couldn't open 'https://d.docs.live.net/456etc/Documents/foldername/TEMPLATE filename.xlsx'. The moment I press the "OK" Excel closes. If I don't mark the file read-only, then it happily opens and allows me to edit it (but then I can write my data into the "TEMPLATE..." file, which I don't want to do.

Is this behaviour expected of OneDrive? Seems a weird restriction. Is there a way around this (without using VBA, which wouldn't work with Excel Online of course).
 

Excel Facts

Excel Can Read to You
Customize Quick Access Toolbar. From All Commands, add Speak Cells or Speak Cells on Enter to QAT. Select cells. Press Speak Cells.

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