"Cannot open file" message

G

Geoff Lilley

I have a strange problem that I've been able to successfully duplicate
on multiple Macs:

An eMac with 512 MB of RAM, running OS X 10.4.7, Office 2004
A MacBookPro, with 2 GB of RAM, running OS X 10.4.8, Office 2004
A PowerMac G4 with 512 MB of RAM, running OS X 10.4.7, Office 2004

The problem is that when I close a file, and then try to re-open it
later, I get a "cannot open file" message.

I don't get this error with EVERY file, but there are three
characteristics that all the files having this problem share in common:
* I save the files on the Desktop
* The files have a PivotTable with a page field
* I used the "Show Pages" feature of the PivotTable

I take it for granted this is file corruption. What I'm wondering is
if anyone else has run into this issue, and is it specific to the
Desktop? Is this a known issue?

The best workaround I've found so far is to either save the file to
~/Documents instead of ~/Desktop, or use external cell references to
grab the cell's values:
=[corrupt file.xls]Sheet1!$A$1

and then change the absolute reference to relative, AutoFill like a
wildman, and call it good.

Again, my main question is, is this a known issue, or is this just my
folly serving as a lesson to others?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Geoff Lilley
Microsoft Office Master Instructor (2000/XP)
Apple Certified HelpDesk Specialist (OS X 10.4)
 

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