User rights and settings

[janetlyn]

Have 7 computers linked to server. Server holds all users files. Of 10 folders to choose from on the server, 4 employees can only see 5 and have full access to those 5. One of the folders is a timecard folder. This was done using Excel and pivot tables. Each person controls his timecard from his workstation. Besides being a user, I am also Admin. As a user, I also open up all timecards because I do payroll. On the timecards, are VLookup links to other files on the server. Two of my timecards, keep losing these links and instead of the links pointing to the files on the server, they change to c:\Documents and Settings\......\XLStartup\. Of course, the file is not there, so I have to update all the links to repoint to the server drive. It is only happening on two workstations. This is NOT an Excel problem. I can fix the timecards and immediately open them again and they are fine. But, at some indeterminate time in the future, they revert back to pointing at the c:\ drive instead of the server drive. It has been suggested that some of the user security settings may be messed up. Since 4 people, including the two whose timecards are messed up, have the same exact user settings and rights, I'm not sure how this could be the answer. However, I know absolutely nothing about Novell. And, the person we hire to fix our Novell problems, has no clue as to what could be going on. So, how do I check and see if the rights are correct. Does this sound like a Novell problem? This has been going on fore months, but it is now starting to cause other problems. Any clues as to how to solve this situation would be greatly appreciated.

This thread was actually started in the Excel forum under "Excel 2002 Links" dated 2/24/03. Since it maybe a Novell problem, I have started this thread. However, for a more detailed problem listing, you might want to read that thread also.

I appreciate any help anyone can give me. I am desparate to solve this problem.

Thanks, JL

 

[Lou0686]

Hi,

It doesn't sound like a rights issue to me.

I would try to isolate the problem first. Is it hardware or is it software based. Does it follow the user or does it stay with the workstation. Try switching the affected users onto workstation that are not affected. Isolation is the key. Collect as many clues as possible. If you feel that something is corrupt with the user's account, try creating a temporary one. If it still occurs it has nothing to do with corrupt accounts.

Lou

 

[janetlyn]

I went and did some checking. Everyone can open their timecard, from their station, and when it asks to update links, they say yes and everything is fine. However, when I open the timecards, two of the seven, when asked to update links, and I say yes, two give me the cannot update links.....The links are pointing to the c:\ drive again. I can't figure out why it is just those two. Everyone else, when I open their timecard, it does not even give me the update link option, it just does it automatically and is correct. When I went to the workstations of the two who are giving me problems and opened their timecards, they opened and updated links. So, this is definitely a workstation problem on my workstation. But what do I do to pinpoint the problem when it is not a consistent problem? Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your help. JL

 

[TheLad]

Are your links using long filenames? -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[janetlyn]

I'm not sure what you mean by "long filenames" so here is an example of a file name.

M:\Employees\Timecards\2003\jldtime-2003.xls

I have also tried replacing the M:\ with the actual drive name, as shown:

Midwest_fs1\Sys\Employees\Timecards.......

Thanks for your help. JL

 

[TheLad]

Your pathnames are "long filenames". By the term "long filenames", I mean filenames that do not fit the standard DOS 8 character length for filenames.

Try the following in Excel on an affected machine:

1. Go into Excel
2. Go to the Help menu and select "Detect and Repair"
3. Click on Start and wait. If prompted to reboot, do so.
4. See if you get the error again. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[janetlyn]

I did the detect and repair on my workstation. I completely shut down my computer (not restarted). I went back into Excel. Opened my timecard, no problem. Opened a problem timecard, no problem. Had the person with the problem timecard open his timecard at his workstation. Add a number, save and close. I opened his timecard at my workstation and the problem existed again. Now what?

 

[AnanthaP]

Looks like the the link to the files is getting lost. (From those two terminals only). Could be that the looked up tables are open by some other user. Maybe if they are static tables (say rates), you could make a copy. Off-hand, don't remember how to share Excel tables. Also, if these are static tables, please ask them not to "update links". I believe there is such an option in MS-Excel.

In the meanwhile, you might like to try re-installing the client/connection/redirector software on the two problem workstations.

End

 

[janetlyn]

The lookup table (source) is never opened by anyone but me. Now for the weird part. I looked on my computer and one of the problem computers and all settings, scripts, etc. were exactly the same. So, on the problem machine, I signed on Novell as myself, and the local computer as the user. Opened the worksheet. No problems. Logged on as Admin and user, no problem. Signed on as Admin and Admin, no problem. Went to my machine, logged on as user (with problem machine) and myself. No problem. Logged on as Admin and Admin, no problem. Logged on as myself and myself, no problem. To make matters worse, the other worksheet from a different user is also working now. Go figure. I feel like someone whose car is not working until you take it to the repair shop, and then it runs fine. Who knows, maybe tomorrow the problem will come back. Thanks for the input, however. Have a wonderful day. Janet Lyn