What replaced Excel Shared Workbook?
Excel Shared Workbook was a legacy multi-user mode with limitations. Google Sheets is built for simultaneous editing in the browser with live cursors and comments. Turn on appropriate share roles instead of enabling a special shared mode.
When to use it
Use normal sharing when old Excel files mention Shared Workbook for co-editing.
When to skip it
Skip shared-workbook migration steps when only one editor works in the file.
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Related blog posts
Guides that explain Shared Workbook in more depth.
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sharing Google Sheets
Sharing controls who can open a spreadsheet and what they can do inside it. The Share button invites people by email or link with roles like viewer, commenter, or editor. This is different from publishing a read-only web feed or locking cells with protection rules.
Read guide →Co-authoring
Co-authoring means multiple people edit the same file at once. Google Sheets does this natively in the browser; Excel Online supports similar live editing, while desktop Excel co-authoring depends on cloud save. Expect fewer lock conflicts than old Shared Workbook.
Read guide →Version history
Version history is a timeline of saved snapshots for your spreadsheet. File > Version history > See version history shows edits grouped by time and editor. You can preview an older state, restore it, or name a version before a big import. It is your undo rope when someone pastes over production data.
Read guide →Done reading about Shared Workbook?
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