The save text list runaround

[kevs1]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

The always happens and I never understand it.
I open a txt file.
I made a change and click save.
Instead of just saving the file, new save as box comes up -- why?

Then I hit save, replace then get message says, my list has features that may are not compatible with text (tab delimited) even though that's what I precisely have. I click yes to that, but then have to say to excel not to save the list. Can anyone explain this? thanks.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

The always happens and I never understand it.
I open a txt file.
I made a change and click save.
Instead of just saving the file, new save as box comes up -- why?

Then I hit save, replace then get message says, my list has features that may
are not compatible with text (tab delimited) even though that's what I
precisely have. I click yes to that, but then have to say to excel not to save
the list. Can anyone explain this? thanks.

When Excel reads the file, it is converted to Excel's internal format. The
same format it uses for ALL files. However, Excel remembers the original
file format. So, when you save it, Excel warns that you may have made some
changes that can't be reflected in the original file's format. For Example
you may have made some cell bold or in color. This is fine in Excel's
internal format, but not for the file's original format. So, after the
warning about possibly losing some features, Excel save the file in its
original format. However, the file is still open, and still in Excel's
internal format. When you go to close it, Excel wants to make sure that you
really do not want to save any changes you may have made in the internal
format version.

 

[kevs1]

thanks Bob.
So Excel is saying it will open and read the .txt file, but will not make changes to it.

 

[kevs1]

I say that because I could not succeed in even changing column width with Excel on a .txt file. I opened it in text edit, but there were no grid lines!
I guess you just have to make it an excel file, do any changes, and then save it again as a .txt

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

thanks Bob.
So Excel is saying it will open and read the .txt file, but will not make
changes to it.

Text is text. Ust letters and numbers. Of course you can make changes to it,
but all that gets saved are letters and numbers.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I say that because I could not succeed in even changing column width with
Excel on a .txt file. I opened it in text edit, but there were no grid lines!
I guess you just have to make it an excel file, do any changes, and then save
it again as a .txt

Text files do not have columns or column width. When you open a text file in
Excel it is transformed into Excel's internal format as I explained. There
are, of course no grid lines either. Yes, make your changes and save as txt
if you want to (need to) keep the file in text format.

The original post was about why all the warnings, which I think I explained.

 

[kevs1]

thanks Bob!