When I cm working in a file, can I make a it read-only for others that open?

Hi Jeff McDaniel,

Yes, it is possible to make a shared Excel file read-only for other users while one user is working on it.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set read-only permissions for an Excel file:

1. Open the Excel file that you want to set as read-only.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Excel window.
3. Select “Info” from the menu on the left-hand side.
4. Click on the “Protect Workbook” dropdown menu.
5. Choose “Mark as Final” to make the document read-only.

This action will let others view your spreadsheet without the ability to edit it. After you complete this action, your Excel file will be locked for editing, and other users will be notified that the workbook is marked as final when they open it.

If you’re using a version of Excel that supports co-authoring, you can also use the “Share” feature to collaborate on the workbook in real-time, where you can see each other’s changes quickly. However, this doesn’t make the file read-only; it’s for collaborative editing.

Remember to communicate with your team about the read-only status to avoid confusion, and ensure that you have saved all necessary changes before setting the file to read-only. If you need to make further edits, you can remove the read-only status by following the same steps and unchecking the “Mark as Final” option.

Hi Jeff,

Welcome to Box Community! 

I've opened a new case regarding your inquiry and a member from Product Support will get in touch shortly. 

Thanks for posting! 

Unfortunately, this doesn't really help.  The goal is when one person opens a file, the file then becomes read only for anyone else opening the file (while the first person is using it) until the first person saves their changes and closes the file.  At this point the file becomes editable again by whoever opens it next.  Currently, when two people have the file open, the file is being saved back into the folder under a different name (adds the users email address to the file name).  Thanks!