EXCEL 2008 NOT OPENING FILES ORIGINALLY FROM EXCEL 2003 PC

[New_Mac_Guy]

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

HI
I am going crazy with this and beg for help - I have two excel files i use all the time on my new glorious mac (first mac ever). Both files originated from my compaq laptop. One file works fine this one doesn't - but it has only decided to not work of late (my back up version also doesn't work now - it worked for longer than the original). I have the files located on the desktop and even the icons are different - the working file has a generic excel icon but the problem file has a minature version of one of the worksheets of that file as its icon??? When I click on the file to open NOTHING HAPPENS - IF I CLICK ON IT AGAIN I GET A MESSAGE SAYING IT IS ALREADY OPEN AND ANY CHANGES WILL NOT BE SAVED IF I REOPEN IT - I HAVE DONE THIS AND THE SAME HAPPENS - NOTHING
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE HELP I WILL BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL
thanks
Tim

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

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

HI
I am going crazy with this and beg for help - I have two excel files i use all
the time on my new glorious mac (first mac ever). Both files originated from
my compaq laptop. One file works fine this one doesn't - but it has only
decided to not work of late (my back up version also doesn't work now - it
worked for longer than the original). I have the files located on the desktop
and even the icons are different - the working file has a generic excel icon
but the problem file has a minature version of one of the worksheets of that
file as its icon??? When I click on the file to open NOTHING HAPPENS - IF I
CLICK ON IT AGAIN I GET A MESSAGE SAYING IT IS ALREADY OPEN AND ANY CHANGES
WILL NOT BE SAVED IF I REOPEN IT - I HAVE DONE THIS AND THE SAME HAPPENS -
NOTHING
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE HELP I WILL BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL
thanks
Tim

The Macintosh operating system replaces the Excel icon with a minature
version of the file, this is normal. It sounds like the file is open, either
hidden, or off screen. Use the Window menu command to see if the file is
open. If so, it will be in the list. Select it and then choose arrange and
check windows of active document. This will move it to the center of the
screen. If the file is hidden, use the unhide command in the Window menu.

 

[CyberTaz]

Not to interfere with Bob's handling in any way but just as a general
consideration - and it may not be of real concern here - but I'd suggest
that you not continue to store working files on the Desktop. It isn't a real
"folder" or directory location & doesn't get refreshed the way proper
storage locations do. I can't cite chapter & verse on the technical aspects,
but it's always been my impression that file continuously retained on the
Desktop can eventually be problematic - this is one of the symptoms.

There are many other ways to more safely make commonly used files readily
available. Both the OS & the program have features for exactly that purpose.

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

 

[New_Mac_Guy]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input Bob - You were right the file was hidden. I tried the window command as you suggested file was not there, clicked unhide and it appeared thanks a heap
Cheers
Tim

 

[New_Mac_Guy]

Bob J - Your point re files on desktop - can this corrupt them? I find it very quick and efficient to keep them there as when I am finished i back them up to a USB portable hard drive and a memory stick (until I can get a proper second hard drive to operate
Do you suggest I keep them in documents or does anyone put them in the dock? or put documents in the dock?
thanks
Tim

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Tim -

The analogy I use - although it isn't 100% literal - is that saving on the
desktop is like going into a library & dumping all the books in the middle
of the floor. At the very least I'd suggest you create a folder on the
Desktop, but the developers of the OS have gone to great lengths to provide
a well defined hierarchical filing system along with numerous features which
facilitate accessing it. It only makes sense to take advantage of what
you've paid for But I wouldn't recommend trying to keep a bunch of
individual files in the Dock - it gets rather crowded.

One suggestion: Put folder [or series of folders] in an appropriate location
on the HD then add it to the Finder's Sidebar. You can access it in a single
click from the Finder or while using Open or Save As in any program.

You can also add an Alias for that folder to the Dock if you wish as well as
creating Aliases literally anywhere they'd be convenient. But there are
numerous other ways to deal effectively with file management. Which ones
best suit your work flow can only be determined by you It might be worth
it to spend some time in Mac Help exploring some of the options.

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