Effect of Outlook Save command on attached Excel file

[jenelle]

I received an Excel attachment in Outlook (Office 2003), started editing
(cleaning up) it's 16 pages, with Saves after each page...when I got to page
15, it contained formulas that referred back to cells I'd moved in previous
sheets.

I checked the datestamp in my temporary folder (OLKAD...) and it was 10
minutes old. I assumed it was too late to recover the original, asked for a
new copy.

When closing out of Excel, it asked me if I wanted to save my changes...I
said Cancel, rethought the scenario, and saved to my Desktop.

On re-opening the attachement, I discovered none of my changes HAD been
saved (they were in the one on my Desktop).

So, when I make interim changes on attachments, they don't actually affect
the original (the attachement); however, when I make interim saves on "normal
files" (those saved in a folder other than a temporary), the changes are IN
the file.

Can I please have a lucid technical description of what's going on with the
'temp file' in these two scenarios. How was I able to make a dozen saves and
THEN "rename" or "redirect" an attached file such that the original was never
affected by any of the edits--yet interim changes to files on a server/HD are
part of the file as soon as I click Save...

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

If you open an attachment from the preview pane, it is read only. If you
make subsequent changes to the item, it will not affect the read-only copy
you have open for editing. When you choose Save As, your edited copy is
saved with the file name and location you select. The original does not
change as it is still and alway was read-only.

If you open the message and then open the attachment, it is immediately
editable as it is not read-only. Try it for yourself to see the
differences.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After furious head scratching, jenelle asked:

| I received an Excel attachment in Outlook (Office 2003), started
| editing (cleaning up) it's 16 pages, with Saves after each
| page...when I got to page 15, it contained formulas that referred
| back to cells I'd moved in previous sheets.
|
| I checked the datestamp in my temporary folder (OLKAD...) and it was
| 10 minutes old. I assumed it was too late to recover the original,
| asked for a new copy.
|
| When closing out of Excel, it asked me if I wanted to save my
| changes...I said Cancel, rethought the scenario, and saved to my
| Desktop.
|
| On re-opening the attachement, I discovered none of my changes HAD
| been saved (they were in the one on my Desktop).
|
| So, when I make interim changes on attachments, they don't actually
| affect the original (the attachement); however, when I make interim
| saves on "normal files" (those saved in a folder other than a
| temporary), the changes are IN the file.
|
| Can I please have a lucid technical description of what's going on
| with the 'temp file' in these two scenarios. How was I able to make
| a dozen saves and THEN "rename" or "redirect" an attached file such
| that the original was never affected by any of the edits--yet interim
| changes to files on a server/HD are part of the file as soon as I
| click Save...

 

[jenelle]

Hi Milly,

Nope, this is the first time I attempted to open an attachment from the
Preview pane of Outlook--and it does indeed say "(Read-Only)."

However, I double-clicked the attachment in an open Outlook message and no
additional words display next to the file name in Excel's title bar. I made
and saved changes (file save or save icon), then closed the file. Then
reopened the attachment (same way) to see the changes were still there (and
the message remained open)

Only when I attempt to close the Outlook message (whether the attachment is
open or closed) do I get a message box "Save Changes?" with Yes or Cancel
buttons. If I Click cancel, then the closed Excel file reopens, with changes
intact.

On a 2nd attempt, I saved the changes in the Excel file, then used the Save
As menu option and saved the file to my desktop. Then I closed the file(s)
and when reopening the desktop file, I got a (2) next to the file name...it
was in the OLK folder, so was it's sibling--even though it wasn't open.

Then I closed Outlook altogether. The attachments went away from the OLK
folder. When I opened Outlook, the message, and then the attachment, it was
in the orignal form.

So, it looks like the folder C:\Documents and Settings\userid\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK107B holds open working files--plus a
few I haven't touched in quite awhile.

What is the OLK... (C:\Documents and Settings\userid\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK107B) and how does it handle edits to
attached files? Right now I have 12 objects in there (I have 12 windows open,
3 of them related to this web site; however, the files are 1 zip file, 3
visio-pdfs (don't have any of either open), 6 Excel files (I have 5 open),
and 3 word docs (I don't have Word open at all). Some of the files in that
folder I haven't touched for several days...

Also, you can't "see" OLK107B when you open C:\Documents and
Settings\jenellea\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files---it has no folders
listed.