Hi team,
I know how frustrating it is when using DataSnipper for testing with validation snips, the preparer can see all documents and snips, but reviewers (e.g., colleagues) see an error message when opening the workbook, even after the documents and snips were exported and saved to a shared location.
What you need to check, first thing first is:
"Include PDFs in Excel" setting is turned off in the workbook.
When this setting is disabled, documents are not embedded correctly, preventing other users from viewing the snips or attached files.
It can also be related to co-authoring setup or version mismatches among team members.
Resolution Steps
1. Check the “Include PDFs in Excel” Setting
- Open the affected workbook in DataSnipper.
- Go to DataSnipper Settings and ensure “Include PDFs in Excel” is turned on.
- If it’s already enabled:
- Try disabling it and then re-enabling it again.
- This will force the documents to be re-included in the workbook.
- Save the workbook after making changes.
2. Sync and Share the Workbook Properly
- After saving, close the workbook and wait a few minutes to allow changes to sync.
- Ask your colleague (e.g., the reviewer) to open the workbook after waiting 5–10 minutes, ensuring that SharePoint or OneDrive has fully synced all files.
3. Ensure Correct File Location
For co-authoring to work correctly:
- The workbook and all documents must be located in a shared location (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive).
- Documents should be placed in the same folder as the workbook before importing them into DataSnipper.
- This allows DataSnipper to properly locate and link the files for all users.
4. Update DataSnipper
Make sure all users (preparer and reviewers) are using the latest version of DataSnipper (25.1.x or newer) to ensure compatibility and prevent co-authoring issues.
Summary
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enable or toggle “Include PDFs in Excel” | Ensures PDFs are embedded properly |
| 2 | Save and allow sync time | Ensures data is available for other users |
| 3 | Store files in the same shared folder | Maintains proper file linking |
| 4 | Update to latest DataSnipper version | Prevents compatibility issues |
Still Seeing the Error?
If the issue persists after following the above steps, please reach out to the Support team with:
- The version of DataSnipper each user is running
- Confirmation that the workbook and documents are stored in the same shared location
- A screenshot of the error message
Hope this helps!