URGENT: Can't open really important excel file!

[MacinSF]

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

Hi -

I have been working on a plan in excel for 3 days straight and today, excel decided that it wouldn't open the file.

The error message is "the file might have been damaged or modified from its original format"

I tried uploading to google docs and it didn't work. I don't believe I have "Numbers" on computer b/c I think that is part of IWork, which is purchased separately.

Can someone please help me recover this file??

Thanks!

 

[JE McGimpsey]

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

Hi -

I have been working on a plan in excel for 3 days straight and today, excel
decided that it wouldn't open the file.

The error message is "the file might have been damaged or modified from its
original format"

I tried uploading to google docs and it didn't work. I don't believe I have
"Numbers" on computer b/c I think that is part of IWork, which is purchased
separately.

Can someone please help me recover this file??

I have had success opening "corrupt" files with Open Office (a free
download):

http://www.openoffice.org

 

[MacinSF]

Thank you so much! I ended up downloading Iwork and used Numbers to open the file and then exported it to Excel. Phew.

Also, I posted on a Microsoft community page and Pat from Microsoft fixed the file and sent it back to me. We have been going back and forth on why the problem happened and he is going to try and fix it for the next update.

Thanks again!

 

[Thomas Gamst]

I have experienced the same problem many times. I think that the file is harmed when Excel "quits unexpectedly", (which is another Mac Excel 2008 problem.

I have also been able to open the file (and save as a new) using Neo Office, but as PivotTables are not supported the same way in Neo Office, major parts of my workbooks are lost.

So, I really hope that Microsoft will come up with a solution in near future. Meanwhile, do anyone have a fix that can bring the life back to such files directly in MS Excel?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I have experienced the same problem many times. I think that the file is
harmed when Excel "quits unexpectedly", (which is another Mac Excel 2008
problem.

May or may not be the same - the OP didn't indicate that s/he had
experienced any crashes.

When you restart XL after a crash, are you saving the AutoRecover file
over your last good saved copy? Or just trying to open the last copy
that you saved?

I haven't had a crash in months, so I can't reproduce your problem
exactly - I've tried force quitting with fairly complex pivot tables,
and had no problem with AutoRecover or any saved version.

I have also been able to open the file (and save as a new) using Neo Office,
but as PivotTables are not supported the same way in Neo Office, major parts
of my workbooks are lost.

So, I really hope that Microsoft will come up with a solution in near future.
Meanwhile, do anyone have a fix that can bring the life back to such files
directly in MS Excel?

If you have access to WinXL03/7, that would probably be your best bet.