how do i open a read-only or encrypted file in excel?

[eesicon]

i am trying to open an excel file but get the message
" excel cannot access this file, it may be read-only or encrypted"

how do i open it??

Thanks..

[rsenn]

If it is read only, then that shouldn't be a problem. Excel opens read only files every day of the week.

Encryption is a different matter. The file may have been encrypted by encryption sofware other than Excel, and the .xls file extension left intact.

Or, this from the Excel Help files may provide a clue for you.

I get an 'encryption scheme not available' message when I try to open a workbook.

Some workbook protection and encryption features vary depending on the language of the operating system they were created in. Before you can open a protected workbook, you must unprotect it with the same operating system and language in which it was created.

For example, if you are using the U.S. English version of Windows and receive a workbook that was protected with the Danish version of Windows, you can open the workbook only after it is unprotected with the Danish version.