Delete Permissions Required to Save File on Network Server

When you save a workbook to a network share the following messages may appear, even if you did not previously save the file to the network share.

Microsoft Excel 97

Where <Server> is the name of the network server, <Share> is the name of the network share, and <File name> is the name of the file you saved.

If you click Yes, the following message appears: If you click OK nothing happens.

Microsoft Excel 7.0

Where <temporary file name> is the name of a temporary file, and <File name> name is the file name you typed in the Save As dialog box.

This behavior occurs because you do not have delete (D) permissions in the destination network directory.

Microsoft Excel requires delete (D) permissions in order to save a file to the destination directory. In Microsoft Windows NT, file permissions must be set to Read, Write, and Delete (RWD), and directory permissions must be set to Read and Write (RW). These permissions are the minimum required to save files to a shared directory under Microsoft Windows NT.

When Microsoft Excel saves a file, it first saves the file to a temporary file in the destination directory. If Microsoft Excel successfully saves the temporary file, the file is then renamed to the file name you specify in the Save As dialog box. Microsoft Excel uses this method of saving files in order to preserve the original contents of the file as a backup should the save operation fail.