Excel... Book.xls is locked for editing

[jerzdawg]

I cannot figure out how to prevent/fix this issue from happening.

Brand new excel file with a minimal spreadsheet, save the file on a shared network drive @ work. Mark the file to be shared and "Allow changes by more than one user at a time. This also allows workbook merging." Save the file and email out the shortcut to a small group of users (usually less than 10, no more than 1 or 2 people will have the file open at 1 time).

Yesterday after 1 user opened the file, it became locked. Even after the user closed out, I was not able to open it again. The users name is listed as having the file open/locked (which they do not have Excel opened at all). I am also not able to delete the file as it says that the file is open in another program.

Ive searched online for this and I have found plenty of topics but there doesnt seem to be a solution. If I call the help desk at work they can usually get the file "unlocked" but I would rather avoid that and figure out how to prevent this from happening in the first place. Using Windows 7 enterprise and Office 2010.

Hopefully someone has an answer for me because this is driving me nuts. Thanks!

[Eric Veteran]

Check the processes on the computer that opened it and make sure Excel isn't still running. I think there's also a hidden lock file that gets created on the share to track the locks so if you can find it removing/renaming it may work.

[jerzdawg]

Check the processes on the computer that opened it and make sure Excel isn't still running. I think there's also a hidden lock file that gets created on the share to track the locks so if you can find it removing/renaming it may work.

No processes are running, I tried the file before the person even logged onto their computer this morning. How would I find this "hidden lock file", I have "show hidden files" and there are no additional files in the folder where the file is located.

[Eric Veteran]

Is it stored on a Windows server? The indexing service may be locking it.

Also, if you can get it to open at all I think there's an option to "close open file" but I cannot remember where it is.

EDIT: I just found this post on TechNet for Office locking issues that might help you: http://blogs.technet.com/b/the_microsoft_excel_support_team_blog/archive/2012/05/14/the-definitive-locked-file-post.aspx

Apparently sometimes it can "lie" and tell you the wrong user has the file opened. :(

[jerzdawg]

Is it stored on a Windows server? The indexing service may be locking it.

Also, if you can get it to open at all I think there's an option to "close open file" but I cannot remember where it is.

EDIT: I just found this post on TechNet for Office locking issues that might help you: http://blogs.technet...-file-post.aspx

Apparently sometimes it can "lie" and tell you the wrong user has the file opened. :(

Thanks.. I've def seen the "lie" because many files have said it was locked by me. Going to try a few things from the page you posted. Ill post back with results