multiple user

[dizzydunham]

The idea is a visiting person(s) wanting to come to visit site submits details 48hours previous for security to approve.
At present our office uploads the data to a security form and emails to security via one of our managers to approve. The workbook takes out the repartition and has saved an incredible amount of time by using VBA. However rather than just 1 person accessing the workbook, now multiple users want access sometimes at the same time

Excel workbook, user can look at a history sheet of previous entries.
User can click button to open userform - populate form and on submit, have the data added to a word document which is saved, also emailed out to relevant parties and data saved to history sheet. Also relevant entry information from userform is added to calendars. A unique number is assigned to each submission and entered onto the word document as well.
An update facility also updates history sheet once data which is sent in word doc. is approved. Also a sheet to show outstanding data awaiting approval.

My little issue, if a user opens the workbook and does not close it, should another user want to use the workbook they cannot.
Is it possible to add a auto close workbook function? - if no movement on the workbook for say - 30 mins - the book will auto save and close.
would it be possible to make the workbook multiple user ?
Or do I go down the route of separate workbook for data entry - separate workbook for userforms?
or is it time to look at an alternative method and go down a different route say a web server App type set up?

Have any of you come across a similar issue and if so what would you recommend for a possible solution.

Many Thanks for taking a look.

 

[mole999]

there is a shared option (collaboration in later versions), there is a simple piece of code that you can add so a single user dosen't block the entire system

 

[dizzydunham]

Brilliant, I like the sound of that, will look into that

Thanks