can't open 97-2004 files

[TomOwens]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

I can't seem to open some of the files that I created in office 2004. It's been suggested that I probably have "illegal" characters in my sheet names. Does anyone know how to change them without being able to open the file?

 

[CyberTaz]

Holding the Shift key while you open the file may allow you to get the file
open, but that's one of the less common issues. If you continue to have a
problem make sure to specify what your XL update level is & include an exact
description of what happens when you attempt to open the file.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[mtpaper]

I am having a similar problem.
I've been humming along for the past few days, after having switched to Mac.

Today I've encountered a file, without any strange characters in the fiename, that won't open.

I tried your suggestion of holding the SHIFT key while trying to open, and that didnt' do anything.

The Exact description of what happens for me when I attempt to open the file is: Nothing. Nothing happens good. Nothing happens bad. The file doesnt' open.

For what it's worth, NeoOffice opened the file without any issue.
I saved it with a new file name with an xls extension, and Excel will not open the new file either

I tried with an xlt extension and Excel will not open it

I saved as a NeoOffice file, then resaved as Excel, and Excel will still not open it.

Suggestions?

The file was created with: Excel 97-2004 and is 252kb

Thanks
Marion

 

[mtpaper]

My sister is able to open the file using Mac Excel 2004.
She saved it with a new name and sent it back to me.
I cannot open the new file.

Suggestions?

 

[mtpaper]

PS - My sister was able to open the file using her Mac-Excel 2004
She saved it with a new name, and sent it back to me
I can't open that file either

 

[CyberTaz]

Can you open the file if you use File> Open rather than double-clicking it?

Have you updated to Office 12.1.1 yet?

SP1 (12.1.0) imposed a change that certain files responded to in this
manner. However, the inconvenience was found to be far more widespread than
anticipated so it was reversed in the 12.1.1 update.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I am having a similar problem.
I've been humming along for the past few days, after having switched to Mac.

Today I've encountered a file, without any strange characters in the fiename,
that won't open.

I tried your suggestion of holding the SHIFT key while trying to open, and
that didnt' do anything.

The Exact description of what happens for me when I attempt to open the file
is: Nothing. Nothing happens good. Nothing happens bad. The file doesnt' open.

For what it's worth, NeoOffice opened the file without any issue.
I saved it with a new file name with an xls extension, and Excel will not open
the new file either

I tried with an xlt extension and Excel will not open it

I saved as a NeoOffice file, then resaved as Excel, and Excel will still not
open it.

Suggestions?

The file was created with: Excel 97-2004 and is 252kb

Thanks
Marion

The problem is most likely with the names of the worksheets. Change any that
contain a slash/ or backslash\. The file extension is (and always has been)
meaningless to Excel.

 

[mtpaper]

Hi Bob and Bob

1. The filename is really bland... it is simply: Datapeople.xls

2. I have tried opening it by double-clicking from Finder, and also via Excel->File->Open. Neither do anything.

3. I am using, and have been using, Office 12.1.1

4. I copied and pasted the file and renamed it. The copy will not open

5. For what it's worth, I can preview the contents.

6. The file will not open

 

[mtpaper]

OK. We opened the file on the PC using Excel 2007. Then saved it as an xlsx file - we got an error message but saved it.

I can open the xlsx file on the Mac.

So, I must have some glitch in the file that Excel 2007 was able to fix for me.

Thanks!

 

[sebcentner]

I am having the exact same problem with files that have no slashes or backslashes. Am running Mac OS 10.5.3 and Office is 12.1.1.

I solved the problem by re-installing Office 2008 (12.0.0) so clearly this problem is related to the 12.1.1 update.

Please advise on solution if anyone knows. In the meantime i will stay at 12.0.0 and not update.

Thx