simultaneously work on desktop version Excel files using the same Dropbox account

[federico00]

Good morning,
I have a Dropbox Basic account. I have linked my account to three devices in the house. Sometimes my partner and I need to simultaneously edit Excel files in my account. So we both log in with my Dropbox account on two different PCs on which there is the same Dropbox folder on the desktop, so we access the same identical files without any difficulty. The only problem is that when we open the same Excel file to make changes, Dropbox creates conflict copies. For our case, having a single Dropbox account in the family, is there a way to work simultaneously from two devices without having problems? I specify that, if possible, we would prefer to continue working with the desktop version on the PC and not online through for example office.com.
Thanks in advance.
Federico

[Rich · Accepted solution]

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@federico00 wrote:

The only problem is that when we open the same Excel file to make changes, Dropbox creates conflict copies. ... if possible, we would prefer to continue working with the desktop version on the PC and not online through for example office.com.

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If you're not using Office Online it's impossible to avoid conflicted copies when opening and saving the same file. You can use the Dropbox Badge to notify you when the other has the file open, but there's nothing to prevent you from opening the same file at the same time on a Basic account. If you were on a Professional or Business account you could lock the file. Of if you worked online, you could both edit the file simultaneously.

[federico00]

Thanks you have been very helpful.
Do you think we could use google sheet online and make sure that the changes made online are also synchronized with the file I have in my Dropbox box?
Or could I work on google sheet online while my wife is editing the same document that is on dropbox at the same time?

Thank you so much for your help.

[Rich]

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@federico00 wrote:

Do you think we could use google sheet online and make sure that the changes made online are also synchronized with the file I have in my Dropbox box? Or could I work on google sheet online while my wife is editing the same document that is on dropbox at the same time?

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I don't use Google Sheets collaboratively so I can't answer those questions.