I have consistently found Excel to be an extremely valuable tool for organizing and examining data. A particular function that I particularly appreciate is the option to cooperate on a workbook with others. Nonetheless, I am aware that not everyone can utilize OneDrive, the standard choice for sharing workbooks in Excel. In this article, I will lead you through the steps of sharing an Excel workbook without relying on OneDrive.
Step 1: Save the Workbook to a Shared Network Folder
The first step is to save your Excel workbook to a shared network folder that is accessible to all the people you want to share it with. This folder can be located on a local server or a cloud-based file sharing service like Dropbox or Google Drive.
File > Save As > Browse > Choose the shared network folder > Save
Step 2: Set Permissions for the Shared Network Folder
Next, you need to ensure that the shared network folder has the appropriate permissions so that everyone you want to share the workbook with can access it. This will depend on the platform or service you are using, but generally, you will need to grant read and write permissions to the individuals or groups you want to collaborate with.
Step 3: Share the File Path with Others
Once the workbook is saved in the shared network folder and permissions are set, you can share the file path with others. This can be done via email, instant messaging, or any other communication platform that you prefer.
Step 4: Enable Workbook Sharing in Excel
Now that the workbook is saved in a shared network folder and others have access to the file path, you need to enable sharing within Excel.
- Open the workbook in Excel.
- Click on the “Review” tab in the ribbon.
- Click on “Share Workbook” in the “Changes” group.
- In the “Share Workbook” dialog box, check the box that says “Allow changes by more than one user at the same time.” This will enable collaborative editing.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 5: Collaborate on the Workbook
Once the workbook is shared and collaborative editing is enabled, everyone who has access to the shared network folder can open the workbook and make changes simultaneously. Excel will track the changes made by each user and merge them automatically.
It’s important to note that when sharing a workbook without using OneDrive, the collaboration features available in Excel might be limited compared to using OneDrive. For example, you may not have access to real-time co-authoring or the ability to see others’ changes in real-time. However, this method still allows for effective collaboration and sharing of workbooks.
Conclusion
Sharing an Excel workbook without OneDrive is entirely possible by saving the workbook to a shared network folder, setting permissions, and enabling workbook sharing within Excel. While it may not provide all the advanced collaboration features available with OneDrive, it is still a viable option for collaborating with others on Excel workbooks. Give it a try and see how it works for you!