I want to know if I can create a backup copy of an excel spreadsheet
in a different location
than where the "original" file is being saved without having to move
the file, after I've saved it.

I would like the back-up file to be saved directly to my local drive
("C")
with the "actual" file being saved to a server.  Two separate
locations.  And I would like to do it all with one click.

I'm not that familiar with macros... so I don't really want to have to
set-up a custom macro to do this either. (plus I don't want to have to
"click" enable macros everytime I open up an excel spreadsheet)

thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by tar_heel_v-ga on 11 Dec 2002 09:20 PST

Would a manual method suffice?  In other words, once the file is
saved, you can do another step to save it elsewhere.

-THV

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Clarification of Question by tonipeluso-ga on 11 Dec 2002 10:09 PST

As long as the manual method is short, (easier than just dragging the
file to "my docs" or doing another "save as")... I'm doing
spreadsheets all the time and would hate to have a an involved process
to try to create a back-up copy for all files.

I've never done back-ups before, but older files are getting corrupted
on our server and I'm hoping this will solve the problem...

thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by hammer-ga on 11 Dec 2002 10:19 PST

Based on your intended use, have you considered using a Scheduled Task
to backup all files in a particular directory on the server to your
local drive at regular intervals? That way, as long as you save your
spreadsheets to the correct directory on the server, they would
automatically be backed up.

- Hammer

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Clarification of Question by tonipeluso-ga on 11 Dec 2002 11:37 PST

Our company does a scheduled backup for the server every night... in
the process of trying to restore an uncorrupted version of my
spreadsheet has jacked everything up (believe it or not) including the
scheduled nightly backup.  If possible, I would rather not do it
through a scheduled task/backup, plus my files are saved to multiple
folders and drives along with other people's files.

I would rather create a separate backup file (if possible) on a file
by file basis, that goes directly to my computer's local drive. 
That's why, if I can, I would prefer to set up something for when I
save the file.

thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by hammer-ga on 11 Dec 2002 12:13 PST

Since...
1. We cannot alter the behavior of Excel's built-in menu choices to
cause clicking Save to do something other than simply save the file
2. You are not willing to use a VBA macro
3. You are not willing to use Save As
4. You are not willing to use a Scheduled Task or other system
automation that automatically copies your files
5. You are not willing to manually copy your files

... I'm afraid I'm out of options for you. Perhaps another researcher
will step up.

- Hammer

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Request for Question Clarification by tisme-ga on 12 Dec 2002 00:01 PST

Hello,

Are you willing to download a macro program that is capable of doing
this? I know of a great program (free for one month) that minimizes
keystrokes and mouseclicks, but you would have to make up your own
macros because of your unique situation.

You could use the program to maximize your excel spreadsheet
automatically, and then have the mouseclicks prerecorded that would
save the application. The file name could be an input box, or be
something you come up with while writing the macro. You could also do
this using keyboard shortcuts, for example, alt-f, delay 1 second, s,
delay 2 seconds, etc.

Writing a macro is really not that difficult with this program, but it
is free for one month only, and is the only thing I can think of that
would solve your problem. I would be happy to write the macro for you,
but would need to know EVERYTHING about your desktop environment, how
your excel is set up, your server information etc... and it is
unlikely you want to post screenshots of all of this information
online. In addition there might be some bugs, and working them out
could take time without actually being at your computer.

This is the best and only solution I can think of added on to the
other clarifications already posted.

tisme-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by tisme-ga on 12 Dec 2002 00:17 PST

Actually the program I am thinking of does not support mouse clicks,
but I cannot see why everything you have described should not be
doable with keystrokes. It wouldn't be too hard to find a program that
can do mouse clicks as well, but the macros might be more difficult to
write.

tisme-ga

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Clarification of Question by tonipeluso-ga on 12 Dec 2002 07:49 PST

wow... I guess this is more complicated than I originally anticipated.
 However, I'm willing to record a macro, its just I'm not very
familiar with them. When I've recorded them in the past, I get a
dialog box that asks if I want to "enable macros" everytime I open
that particular spreadsheet, which is something I really want to
avoid, if possible.

If a macro is the only way to go, then I can either record it through
excel with some help, or a downloaded program, though before I can
download anything I'll have to check with our IT guy.

thanks.

Hi, tonipeluso-ga:

I think the best solution for you is an Excel "add-in".  The Microsoft
supplied AutoSave add-in doesn't do what you want, but I think I've
found a free third-party add-in that does:

[Rob's Excel VBA Utilities: AutoBackup '97 Add-in]
(scroll 2/3's of the way down page)
http://www.rb-ad.dircon.co.uk/rob/excelvba/utils/index.htm

Although Rob's "new" version of the AutoBackup add-in was developed
for Excel '97, he says on his "What's New" page (see the embedded link
to this in the above) that he has updated it to work with Excel 2000. 
[For VBA add-in programmers lurking out there, he also gives the
password to

While we on the subject, let's review what is missing from the
Microsoft supplied functionality:

[How to Save and Back Up Excel 2000 Files Automatically]
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2000/tips/exsave.asp

There is an AutoSave add-in that comes with Excel 2000, 

(see:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1931,00.asp

about the newer AutoRecover approach in Excel 2002), 

but what this allows you to do is set an option to automatically save
your workbooks periodically while they are open.  It doesn't address
any issue about what happens when you _save_ your spreadsheet.  There
is another Excel feature that does address this, the automatic backup
option that can be set on any particular workbook:

To "[t]urn on automatic backups for a file [y]ou must set the
automatic backup option for each individual workbook file for which
you want backup copies. To turn on the option for all new workbooks
that you create, modify the default workbook template to include the
setting. For information about changing the default template, see How
to Customize Excel Defaults with Templates.

1. On the File menu, click Save As. 
2. On the Tools menu in the Save As dialog box, click General Options.
3. Select the Always Create Backup check box. 
4. Click OK, and then click Save. "

In other words you can make the necessary change to your Excel default
template, and then this change is thereafter incorporated into the
workbooks which are generated from it.

The rub is that there is no provision for placing the backup copies
into any directory other than that where the orginal spreadsheet is
created/saved (the backup copy is given a different extension).

So in short you seem to have identified an area in which Microsoft has
done less for Excel users than (say) they did for Word users.

Some other links that might be of interest:
 
[Recommended Reading: Excel Backup and Recovery, etc.]
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/backup.htm

Includes some information of password recovery methods.

[The Excel MVP Page: Jan Karel Pieterse's AutoSafe]
(scroll down to nearly bottom of page)
http://www.bmsltd.co.uk/mvp/

A near miss. This Excel 2000 add-in almost does what you want, but it
fails to retain the "backup" after the master copy is closed:

"This Autosafe utility creates copies of open workbooks at regular
intervals in a separate (user-selectable) directory. It does not
overwrite the master file(s), that is up to the user to do, using
normal methods. As soon as a workbook is closed the backup copy is
deleted from the backup directory."

regards, mathtalk-ga


Search Strategy:

Keywords: "Excel 2000" "add-in" AutoBackup
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Excel+2000%22+%22add-in%22+AutoBackup&btnG=Google+Search

Keywords: Excel AutoSave
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Excel+AutoSave&btnG=Google+Search

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Clarification of Answer by mathtalk-ga on 12 Dec 2002 09:36 PST

Oops, I didn't complete this sidenote:

[For VBA add-in programmers lurking out there, he also gives the
password to unlock the source code to his clever add-in.]

Sorry for the confusion.

-- mathtalk