Issues with Shared Excel and Word files on Novell servers

I’ve been using a shared Novell drive to collaborate with a team. We use Excel and Word files, and I’ve attempted to make them “shareable”. Quite often the file will work for a while, then “lose” its shareable attribute.

To make an excel file shareable on a Novell server, you have to do two things.

Open the file, select “Tools: Shared Workbook”. Check “Allow changes by more than one user at the same time.”

In Windows Explorer, right-click the Excel file, select Properties, then click on the NetWare Info tab.

Check “Shareable”

I’ve found that Novell loses this shareable attribute randomly, and it must be reapplied.