Strange network to local disk saving corruption

[jeffleeson]

Hello everyone!

I've researched this for the past several days, but I've been unable
to find reports of this in the past.

I work in an animation company, and we're in the middle of production
of a couple new shows. We've never had any problems in this area in
the past, so I'm a little baffled as to why it's happening now. We're
a mainly PC company, with our file servers all running Windows 2003
Server on Dell servers. Our production people are all on Macs, using
both iMac G5's and Intel iMacs, all running 10.4.9 with Office 2004,
updated to 11.3.4.

The problem is working with Excel documents that are saved to the
server. The problem we're seeing is that when we open an Excel file
from the Mac, then do a Save As and save the file locally to the
computer, once you close the file, go to the copy you saved locally,
and try to open it. It doesn't open. It flashes like it's trying to
open it, but nothing happens. I've discovered the problem is that the
file has somehow become corrupted in the saving process, because if I
send the file to a PC and open it in Excel (and I've used both 2003
and 2007 to open it), it says the file was corrupted, and asks if I
want to try to recover it. It recovers the data only, and loses all
formating and formulas. When compared side by side, the file info
indicates the file on the server is identical, other than modified
date, to the file stored locally. They're the exact same size,
everything.

There's no problem saving the file back to the server, or doing a Save
As to another folder on the server. The same is true when the file is
local. The problem only occurs when the file is saved on the server,
and we try to do a Save As to the local machine. I've been able to
replicate this on several machines. I've tried creating a fresh user
and testing this, and it worked fine the FIRST time I did it. It
saved it locally fine, and reopened without any problems, but when I
tried it a second time, it failed like before.

All computers are connecting to the Windows server using SMB. I
haven't tested using AFP, because it's just not an option for us (I've
made a concerted effort to get everyone to switch to using SMB).

I've heard of problems with people saving files back to their
networked home folders, but all our users have local profiles, and
besides, they're not saving back to the share! This has honestly got
me quite baffled.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Jeff Leeson
Systems Support Specialist
DIC Entertainment

 

[JE McGimpsey]

This has honestly got me quite baffled.

Me as well... Especially that the Save As went normally the first time.

So I'll just throw out some questions:

Does this happen with all XL files (including a freshly created one
saved on the server)?

Is there any difference between trying to open the files from the Finder
vs. via XL's File/Open?

Any graphics or other objects in the files?

Do you have any add-ins installed on the local machines? How about a
Personal Macro Workbook?

Is XL closing normally?

Do you have macros in the workbooks?

When you do the SaveAs, I assume you're saving as an Excel Workbook,
right?

Do you have the files set to always make backups?

What report do you get when you run a compatibility check before saving?

 

[jeffleeson]

Hey JE, thanks for your reply. My answers are under each question.

Me as well... Especially that the Save As went normally the first time.

So I'll just throw out some questions:

Does this happen with all XL files (including a freshly created one
saved on the server)?

This happens with all Excel files. It doesn't matter if they were
created on the server, locally, by a PC, it's all the same.

Is there any difference between trying to open the files from the Finder
vs. via XL's File/Open?

No difference. It just flashes like it's trying to open it, but never
does.

Any graphics or other objects in the files?

The files are all pretty basic. They're mainly files used to track
schedules of each step in the production process.

Do you have any add-ins installed on the local machines? How about a
Personal Macro Workbook?

These are all default installations. There's never anything extra or
third-party added, so none of the add-ins are installed. No personal
macro workbook either. No one in that department even uses macros.

Is XL closing normally?

I've tried to see if it had anything to do with closing it, but it
didn't seem to make a difference. I tried doing the Save As, closing
the file, opening it back up again, didn't open, and also tried doing
the Save As, quitting Excel, then opening it again. Still no go.

Do you have macros in the workbooks?

No macros.

When you do the SaveAs, I assume you're saving as an Excel Workbook,
right?

Yes, we don't deal with any other formats, or older Excel formats.

Do you have the files set to always make backups?

If you're referring to AutoRecover information being saved, yes, but I
think you're talking about something else. Where would I find this
setting?

What report do you get when you run a compatibility check before saving?

Compatibility checks vary upon the file. They're usually clean
without problems, but some come back as "Macintosh links to files..."
and "Formulas that perform calculations on dates..."

Thanks for your help!

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Jeff,

If you install a DAVE or ADMITMAC from Thursby http://www.thursby.com does
the problem go away? (free trial available).

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

Hello everyone!

I've researched this for the past several days, but I've been unable
to find reports of this in the past.

I work in an animation company, and we're in the middle of production
of a couple new shows. We've never had any problems in this area in
the past, so I'm a little baffled as to why it's happening now. We're
a mainly PC company, with our file servers all running Windows 2003
Server on Dell servers. Our production people are all on Macs, using
both iMac G5's and Intel iMacs, all running 10.4.9 with Office 2004,
updated to 11.3.4.

The problem is working with Excel documents that are saved to the
server. The problem we're seeing is that when we open an Excel file
from the Mac, then do a Save As and save the file locally to the
computer, once you close the file, go to the copy you saved locally,
and try to open it. It doesn't open. It flashes like it's trying to
open it, but nothing happens. I've discovered the problem is that the
file has somehow become corrupted in the saving process, because if I
send the file to a PC and open it in Excel (and I've used both 2003
and 2007 to open it), it says the file was corrupted, and asks if I
want to try to recover it. It recovers the data only, and loses all
formating and formulas. When compared side by side, the file info
indicates the file on the server is identical, other than modified
date, to the file stored locally. They're the exact same size,
everything.

There's no problem saving the file back to the server, or doing a Save
As to another folder on the server. The same is true when the file is
local. The problem only occurs when the file is saved on the server,
and we try to do a Save As to the local machine. I've been able to
replicate this on several machines. I've tried creating a fresh user
and testing this, and it worked fine the FIRST time I did it. It
saved it locally fine, and reopened without any problems, but when I
tried it a second time, it failed like before.

All computers are connecting to the Windows server using SMB. I
haven't tested using AFP, because it's just not an option for us (I've
made a concerted effort to get everyone to switch to using SMB).

I've heard of problems with people saving files back to their
networked home folders, but all our users have local profiles, and
besides, they're not saving back to the share! This has honestly got
me quite baffled.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Jeff Leeson
Systems Support Specialist
DIC Entertainment

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[JE McGimpsey]

When you do the SaveAs, I assume you're saving as an Excel Workbook,
right?

Yes, we don't deal with any other formats, or older Excel formats.[/QUOTE]

Well, I continue to be stumped. I suppose it's possible that you've got
a virus - have you run a virus check?

If you're referring to AutoRecover information being saved, yes, but I
think you're talking about something else. Where would I find this
setting?

In the Save dialog, you can click Options, then check the Always make
backup checkbox. I wouldn't think it would cause the problem.