Can't open Excel file

[Hot ICQ]

I hope someone can help me with a problem I'm having opening an .xls
file.

The file is 14.7M in size.

I backed up the file onto the Windows Live server before I left on
this trip.

I opened the file a few times without any issues just a few weeks ago.

At some point something must have changed on my system.
Now when I try to open the file I get this message:

Microsoft Office Excel has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience.
The info you were working on might be lost.
Microsoft Office Excel can try to recover it for you.
etc....

It doesn't matter what I do at this stage. The file closes and I can't
access it.
Yes I can check the box 'recover my work ad restart...'
but the file is so stripped down that it is unusable for me.

Even if I go back to the file I saved on Windows Live that I know was
good on my system, I still can't open it!
I get the same error message.

Any suggestions?

I really need to get into this file (even just to delete half of the
stuff I don't need to make the file smaller).

When I try to open it on the net in Windows Live, either using Excel
on the net or in my web browser, it balks and refuses to open saying
it is too large or something like that.

TIA

 

[Puppet_Sock]

[workbook won't open now that did before]

Round up the usual suspects.

Is there VB code in this workbook? Have your Excel settings got VB
turned off? Could happen if your Excel got re-installed, updated,
a service pack installed, maybe some other things. Maybe some
other user was using your Excel while you were away and turned
it off.

If you have VB code turned off you get a cryptic error message
that does not really explain the problem. I think it's a security
setting or something.

Does the workbook use an add-in that is not added in? Same
possible ways this could get messed up as for VB code. Solver
not in your install and the workbook uses solver and you get
a wonky error message.

Do you have an older copy of the file? Does that open? Maybe
there was corruption some place.

Try copying the file to a local hard drive and open it from there.
Try it on another installation of Excel.
Socks

 

[Jim Cone]

Some things to try...

1... Disable macros when opening.
2... With Excel closed, delete the configuration file for the toolbars/ribbon. Excel??.xlb
-and-
2... Delete the contents of your c:\windows\temp directory then reboot.
3... Open Excel in Safe Mode - hold down the Ctrl key when opening Excel
4... Open your file in Libre Office (free)

'---
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA .
http://www.contextures.com/excel-sort-addin.html .
Editorial review of Special Sort Excel add-in (30 ways to sort)





"Hot ICQ" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[Hot ICQ]

Some things to try...

Thanks Jim. I tried all your suggestions except the last.
I have very limited space on my hard drive and don't want to install
Libre Office.

None of the suggestions worked.

However I have found a solution.
My trusty smartphone to the rescue!.

I transfered my last working copy of the file plus my most current
copy of the file to my smartphone.

I have an app called ThinkFree Office which opens MS files.
It refused to open the last working copy but strangely opened my most
current file (which was even larger than the last working copy).

Once it opened, I deleted a bunch of non-essential stuff.
That brought the file down only 1 Meg or so.
BUT.... the file now opened on my netbook!
Success!

One needs to be resourceful.

By the way, for the future, how do you disable macros (I didn't have
any in my worksheet) on a worksheet if you can't open it?

I went into settings in Excel, (I'm using an older version) and it
didn't have a 'disable macros' option.

 

[Jim Cone]

RE: "I went into settings in Excel, (I'm using an older version) and it
didn't have a 'disable macros' option."


That option is presented in a Message Box when the file is opened - if the file contains code.
See: Tools | Options | Security (tab) | Macro Security (button)
My recommended setting is Medium: which generates the above message.

If are opening Excel files in older/newer versions of Excel or copying/pasting between older/never
versions...
Then my free "Formats & Styles" add-in which lists or removes unused styles or number formats could
be of value.
Available at: http://www.mediafire.com/PrimitiveSoftware
--
Jim Cone






"Hot ICQ" <[email protected]>
wrote in message

Some things to try...

Thanks Jim. I tried all your suggestions except the last.
I have very limited space on my hard drive and don't want to install
Libre Office.

None of the suggestions worked.

However I have found a solution.
My trusty smartphone to the rescue!.

I transfered my last working copy of the file plus my most current
copy of the file to my smartphone.

I have an app called ThinkFree Office which opens MS files.
It refused to open the last working copy but strangely opened my most
current file (which was even larger than the last working copy).

Once it opened, I deleted a bunch of non-essential stuff.
That brought the file down only 1 Meg or so.
BUT.... the file now opened on my netbook!
Success!

One needs to be resourceful.

By the way, for the future, how do you disable macros (I didn't have
any in my worksheet) on a worksheet if you can't open it?

I went into settings in Excel, (I'm using an older version) and it
didn't have a 'disable macros' option.

1... Disable macros when opening.
2... With Excel closed, delete the configuration file for the toolbars/ribbon. Excel??.xlb
-and-
2... Delete the contents of your c:\windows\temp directory then reboot.
3... Open Excel in Safe Mode - hold down the Ctrl key when opening Excel
4... Open your file in Libre Office (free)

'---
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA .

http://www.contextures.com/excel-sort-addin.html

 

[Jim Cone]

Additional...
Holding down the Ctrl key when opening Excel disables code and most extra features.
This is known as "Safe Mode"
'---
Jim Cone

 

[Hot ICQ]

Thanks for the tips and the Ctrl-key option at startup Jim!