We are experiencing an issue with certain Excel files in our SharePoint 2007 environment. When opening up an Excel file from SharePoint, there is banner under the excel toolbar ribbon that provides the option to “Check-out” the file. The banner has
the words “Server Workbook” and “To modify this workbook, you must check it out”, and a button that says “Check-Out.” The problem is: when opening Excel files that contain a linked data connection to SharePoint, the “Check-out” banner does not show up.
There is no indication that the file is read-only. Users get very surprised after making edits and trying to save the files, as they are only then informed that the document is read-only. This leads to the annoying process of saving a copy locally,
going back to the library, checking the document out, and uploading the saved document overwriting the one in the library.
This occurs with .xlsx files for both Windows 7 and XP users. The problem is caused by an embedded data connection to a SharePoint list in the Excel file. If the Excel worksheet containing the connected data is removed from the file, the Excel
files acts normally and the “Check-out” banner appears. The problem does not resolve if only the connection is removed (Data > Connections > Remove) – it appears you have to remove the entire Excel worksheet containing the connected data in order
to have the “Check-out” banner appear. If you add the embedded data connection worksheet back in, and the banner disappears.
Is there a fix for this? Thanks,
-Richard.