Excel: message "A newer version of this file is available on the server" when editing with Office

[ABarth]

Hello everyone,

Since upgrading from ACS 23.1 Community Edition to ACS 23.4.1, we have problem while editing Excel in Office :

1. From Alfresco Share, open the file with "Edit with Microsoft Office"
2. File open in read-only (expected behavior, OK) -> click on "Enable editing"
3. A message shows with "A newer version of this file is available on the server"
4. After clicking yes, the file finally open in edition

This new behavior is causing many issues with saving document and lots of confusion for the users. Notably problems with:

• Password protected files (you need to enter the password twice!)
• Files with macros
• Files with external data sources (you need to do "Save as..." and then import to Alfresco..)

Did anyone have the same issues or successfully configured Excel to open files from Alfresco directly in edition mode ?

We also tried downgrading the AOS module from 3.2.0 to 2.0.0 -> same behavior.

Best regards,

Adrien

Versions :

• Alfresco Content Services 23.4.1
• AOS module: 3.2.0
• Office: LTSC 2021

[heiko_robert]

Hey Adrien,
I doubt this issue is related to the Alfresco upgrade.

Sooner or later, all Excel users who work with the edit-online function via AOS will have to deal with this phenomenon. Excel uses different mechanisms to determine the last modified date, depending on whether the client works via the file system or SharePoint protocol. If the user saves an Excel file locally and then saves it to Alfresco using one of the file protocols, Alfresco changes the cm:modified to the current server time. This can cause the modified date in the Open XML format to differ from cm:modified, and the user gets a conflict in Excel via AOS / when editing online from Alfresco Share.