Excel Problem

[stevenklimek]

I have MS Office 2004, and just recently, I am having trouble opening some Excel files. Some of my Excel files open fine, while others just will not open (and there is no error message or anything). These were all created on this same computer with this same version of Excel...so it's not a problem with a different version.

For the files that will not open (which would possibly suggest they are corrupt?), I am still able to view them in "Quick Look", so it seems the file is okay. I can also put them on a flash drive and open them on another computer.

Further, when I open those trouble files in another computer and just try to copy the information into a "new" blank spreadsheet and save them with a different name, I am still unable to open them on my laptop once I transfer them back with a flash drive.

What could this problem be? Thank you.

 

[harryb2448]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Office may have come corrupt. Use the uninstaller and do a clean install from the original CD. You will be able to use one of the keycodes even if it has been used previously. Make sure you do use the uninstaller which is on the CD.

 

[stevenklimek]

Thanks for the reply. I will be sure to try that once I can access my CD (I'm traveling at the moment). But just out of curiosity, could this happen even though I've already had this version of Excel installed since I had the computer? And even though some files open just fine?

Thanks again!

 

[harryb2448]

In theory any application can become corrupt from any number of reasons, poiwer outage, not quitting correctly, losing battery power when nlot on mains etc.

 

[stevenklimek]

I see. Thanks again for the information, I'll give it a shot!

 

[toMACsh]

Wow! This is a real shot in the dark, but it sounds like a problem with the Excel installation on your Mac. But then, why do some files open? I can answer that: I don't know! So, try the following (it won't hurt anything):

Quit Excel.
Find the file at the end of this path:
> HD/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist
Move that to your Desktop. (You can always put it back later.)
Go back into Excel. This creates a new plist file set to the defaults. (this means that any preferences you changed will be back to the original state)
Now try.

What happened?

 

[stevenklimek]

pesah flisent

Thanks for the feedback, toMACsh...I found your instructions really easy to follow, but unfortunately it didn't change anything. That's the baffling thing to me...if Excel was corrupt, why would some files open and others won't? Again, these are all files that were created in the same place, which I was able to open as recently as last week.

Anyway, thanks again!

 

[PGB1]

I, too have the same problem as Stevenklimek. Some open, some don't. I used two of the files yesterday. But ... I (like a good boy) followed Auto Update's recommendation and installed the most recent update for Office for Mac. (idiot move on my part)

The first thing I tried was to figure out how to un-install the update. I searched Microsoft's web site and all kinds of related sites. Ok, now I remember another reason I use MAC. I also searched for files not opening problems.

No problem, I thought. I used a back up from before I put the update in. These two files still won't open. So, following Harryb448 & toMACsh good advice, I re-installed the entire Office package as well as ditching any plist (found one at User Name-Library Preferences and User Name-Libraty-Microsoft) Did them one at a time & re-tested. I tried copying the files to an external drive & opening them. Nope! I tried E-Mailing one to myself. What that was supposed to accomplish escapes me now, but it made good sense at 5:00 this morning. I don't have another MAC with Excel to test them on.

Since this didn't work, I tried an archived copy of each file from way back. No luck. The two still won't open. I don't know how many others don't open, as I randomly sampled only a few. Crazy Huh?

If I get this figured out, I'll sure post the solution here! Have any of you figured it out yet?

Thanks very much for your help!
Paul

 

[PGB1]

Success! (I Think)

I hope this will help others with this problem:
After all the un-installs, re-installs and permission fixes & everything else I could think of I accidentally stumbled upon a solution (at least so far it's working):

There exists an update for my version of Office For MAC 2004. It does not show up on Auto Update, nor does it present itself if I search for updates manually. This update fixed the problem, but not right away. After installation & a restart, the problem still existed. I removed the plists for Excel (Both of them) and restarted again. Voila! The files now open and act normally.

The update brings Excel to Version 11.6.2 I found it at this web page: Download details: Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.6.2 Update

I also want to thank those who responded earlier. I found, today, a problem with Word. (Won't open existing files. Will open those created today.) Ditching the plists solved that post-haste! Plists will be locked into my mind for use when programs go haywire.

I sincerely hope this helps all who have the problem. It's kind of goofy that one can back up files and still have no access. I guess I should keep (shudder!) paper copies of important stuff. (At least if they are used with a Microsoft program)

Thanks Again,
Paul

 

[toMACsh]

I guess I should keep (shudder!) paper copies of important stuff.

Now there's a bird-brained idea! (I mean that in the most flattering sense of the phrase, of course!)

I'll have to check my O4M 2004 Excel version. All of the problems mentioned above point to the application, not the individual files. A drastic step: Remove Office (using Remove Office) and reinstall it. ??

 

[PGB1]

Hi toMACsh,

Removing & Reinstalling Office was one of my attempts. I used their uninstaller. What a long & boring project putting it back. It must have left evil traces behind because the files still didn't open.

Heck, I even re-named the files to try to fool Excel. Truthfully, I did all kinds of crazy stuff in my attempts. For some reason, the "Security" update worked. I'm going to either keep print outs or get Apple's spreadsheet program and export everything, importing to Excel only when necessary for others.