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Question

MS Office on Mac Network issues

Oct 18, 2011 11:00AM PDT

I am in a school environment and our network has MS Office installed on
each computer. We are Macs.(iMacs) We have permission errors all of the time.
Students will create a Word document, save it and the next time that
they log in, they will get an error when trying to save the document,
making them save it as a new name. We get all kinds of errors from
permission errors, etc. After the document is saved, it will open next
in a temp type of file (can't recall the name) and then require saving
as a new name. In one session, the student might need to resave the
SAME document in a new name several times. What is wrong with this
picture. Our tech people keep just thinking Microsoft doesn't want to
work well on a Mac environment. Why can't we find a fix? Has anyone
else had these issues? We do have some older computers that will not
install the newer version of Office. So, there are two versions of
Office (in separate labs). Kids will open in both labs depending on
what class they are in. They are both saved as .docx files and still the
changing from one lab to another causes these issues too. Help! I
would love to help out for this issue. It is a real hassle! Ideas?
Who can we contact for help?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Sadly when this happens.
Oct 18, 2011 11:08AM PDT

You find the IT staff is no calling the makers of the software or servers. I can't guess why this is happening but I will share that when it does happen I usually find the IT staffer will finger point everywhere but will not pick up the phone.
Bob

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Sorry for the typo.
Oct 19, 2011 5:20AM PDT

My new laptop is new and I find a missing "t" in some of my posts.

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Answer
seems like a common issue
Oct 18, 2011 1:54PM PDT

There are several recommendations. One is to work with Terminal changing permissions: see https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2754495?start=0&tstart=0

see also:
The document is open on two or more computers that are running different operating platforms.
Method 1: Edit the File Locally

Move the document to your local hard disk for editing. Then, move it back to the server after you finish.

Method 2: Work on a Copy of the File

Save a copy of the file with a different file name, and work on the copy, either on your hard disk or on the server.
NOTE:
As an example of the situation that can cause this error message, if
the document is open on a Macintosh computer and you open it on a second
computer running Windows or Windows NT, the error occurs when either
user tries to save the document.
This problem results from a difference in the way that Macintosh OLE and
Windows OLE open files. As a result, you cannot save a file on two
different operating platforms at the same time.
The Always Create Backup Copy option is turned on, with a server or operating system that does not support long file names.

Turn off the Always Create Backup Copy option by doing the following:

On the Tools menu, click Options.Click the Save tab.
Click to clear the Always Create Backup Copy option.NOTE: This option copies the previous version of the document as a backup copy with the name "Backup of filename".
As a result, Word cannot create a backup copy on server or operating
systems that only support 8.3 file names (file names with eight
characters and a three-letter extension).
Google lists a lot of threads on this error.
I personally kind of like the idea of working locally and then put the file back on the server.