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In version 1.0 of Distributed Spreadsheet, the limit of 12 applies only to the merging process. This means that in a single merge of contributed worksheets, only the work of 12 Contributors can be merged in a single step. Allow me to explain further.
Distributed Spreadsheet works by assigning users as “Contributors” to worksheets within a workbook. Let’s assume the workbook in question had a total of 25 worksheets. There are 20 employees who will act as Contributors and each has been assigned a unique page within the workbook (it is permitted to assign a single user to multiple worksheets if necessary. It is not recommended to assign multiple users to the same worksheet). All of the 25 employees receive their worksheet(s) via e-mail and modify the content of their assigned worksheet. The completed worksheets are all returned.
The Distributor now has the option of merging the updated worksheets into the original workbook, viewing the individual worksheets as received or merging only a selected few of the overall worksheets received. If the Distributor desires to merge all of the received worksheets, the merge limit of 12 contributions is imposed. These 12 can be any 12 received contributions the Distributor desires to merge. It does not matter if each of the 12 Contributors received multiple worksheets as part of the initial request. What matters is that no more than 12 received contributions is merged.
In many cases, the 12-merge limit is of no concern. Unless there is a summary or roll-up worksheet through which totals across all the worksheets is being generated, the need to merge everything together is not so vital as to be a show stopper. The worksheets received from each Contributor can be viewed individually and groups of 12 can be merged as separate actions if necessary. It all comes down to how Distributed Spreadsheet is being used.
If you have questions about this application of Distributed Spreadsheet, please drop a note to info@distributedspreadsheet.com.
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