Sharing Workbooks with Dropbox

[starl]

Has anyone ever shared workbook via Dropbox? Specifically: a shared folder in dropbox with an Excel workbook NOT saved to be a "Shared" workbook.
Users have Dropbox installed locally, so when they open the workbook, technically they're opening their own copy.

So what happens when both have the workbook open? What if both users change cell A1?
What if User A adds a new sheet?
Both users save changes. So what does Dropbox do?

As far as I know, Dropbox simply synchronizes files. It doesn't compare data.. so, the file saved last would overwrite the older file..

Or, with Excel 2016 - has Excel gotten a little smarter with files shared like this?

 

[jondavis1987]

If both people have the same file open from dropbox at the exact same time, and they're editing the file, when the first person saves it that is the original file. When the other person saves their version it will say it's a conflicted version and still save it. I do this at work with me and my boss. So one version will become "Michael's version XXXXX" and one will become "Jon's version XXXXX"

 

[jondavis1987]

Also, when you're in the file, it will typically tell you when somebody else is working in that file. If he saves it before you do it will inform you there is an updated verison of the file and ask you if you would like to switch to the updated version

 

[starl]

Thanks Jon. I set up a few tests and was able to see what you've described. Not the best situation. Thankfully, I only need to pull the data for viewing and I think a normal Data Query can do that ok.

But if I had to do a project where both needed to write to the file, I'd probably steal an idea someone gave me - add code that creates a text file when the workbook is opened. Text file is deleted when workbook is closed. This requires an intermediary to open the Dropbox workbook so it can check if the file is open before actually opening it.

 

[Smitty]

Heya Tracy,

Co-Authoring in Excel is now live.

 

[starl]

Yes, but requires MS credentials - Office 365, OneDrive. Not an option.
I know a few people that are very much against putting data on OneDrive due to how they (mis)handled a data breach a few years back..

 

[Smitty]

Yeah, you can't do it without OneDrive.