Excel 2007 Shared Workbook Success Stories

Please let me know if you have successfully implemented and managed shared workbooks in the long term. I’m trying to get an idea of what pitfalls might be in store for us if we roll them out.

We need to create 4 applications for a limited number of users collaborating on small data sets. Because of their size, we?d rather not commit resources for database development and training. Most end users are comfortable with Excel.

We are hoping to implement the workbooks with Data Validation, Protection and Track Changes. I’ve read these features might be problematic in a shared environment.

What does your experience say? Will shared workbooks turn out to be a bear or a puppy dog?