I have the same problem!
I'm now running Endnote X5, Word 2011 and Mac OS X 10.7.3 as well.
Every now and then, while saving, I get a prompt stating:
You cannot save while the file is use by another process. Try saving the file with new name.
Then, when I do as instructed, I get:
This is not a valid file name.
Try one or more of the following:
- Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly
- Select a file from the list of files and folders.
First I thought it was because I was using Endnote X4, but even after upgrading to X5, turning off my external hard drive and moving the files from Dropbox to a normal folder, I still get the same prompt.
If I'm lucky my file is simply renamed but twice it completely disappeared! Gone! No autorecovery, no Time Machine back-up, no .tmp, nothing!
Has Time Machine and/or Dropbox corrupted my Word file?
There are too many players in this process 😟
Neither Endnote, Microsoft or the web seem to provide answers. I only found these remarks:
http://www.endnote.com/enosx.asp
http://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/gradflash/newsletter.html (scroll down for remarks on Dropbox and Endnote)
My guess is that Endnote can't handle any kind of syncing or back-up processes while saving.
So if these coincide, as often the case with temporay Time Machine back-ups on my MacBook Pro, it simply can't save and asks you to do it otherwise.
Who is to blame here and who has to work on a solution? Microsoft, Reuters or Apple?
Fact remains: it used to work under Mac OS X 10.6 and Endnote X4 with Office 2011!