Bug? Square brackets in file name confuses sheet renames

Hi.

I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
I'm using Excel 2003 SP1

I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a bug to
them!

Create a new workbook
Save this as test.xls
rename test.xls to test[].xls
open test[].xls
rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of Sheet1
The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1

--
Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel

Hi Rob

this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003 does not
support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick google
search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order will bring up
recent discussions on the topic)

if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can email them
at
[email protected]

with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
functionality put back in or whatever.

Cheers
JulieD

"Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> Hi.
>
> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
>
> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a bug
> to them!
>
> Create a new workbook
> Save this as test.xls
> rename test.xls to test[].xls
> open test[].xls
> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of Sheet1
> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
>
> --
> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>
>
>

Julie,

Thanks for your reply

Perhaps I wasn't clear.
This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.


--
Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel


"JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Rob
>
> this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003 does not
> support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick google
> search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order will bring up
> recent discussions on the topic)
>
> if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can email
> them at
> [email protected]
>
> with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
> functionality put back in or whatever.
>
> Cheers
> JulieD
>
> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
>> Hi.
>>
>> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
>> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
>>
>> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a bug
>> to them!
>>
>> Create a new workbook
>> Save this as test.xls
>> rename test.xls to test[].xls
>> open test[].xls
>> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of Sheet1
>> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
>>
>> --
>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Ah, but it does. Your bug is that the sheet name is changed.


On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 19:07:02 +1200, "Rob van Gelder"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Julie,
>
>Thanks for your reply
>
>Perhaps I wasn't clear.
>This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.

hi Rob

my glasses obviously need cleaning - however, MS have never allowed
filenames with [] in them (try doing a file / save and use the [] in the
name), therefore, by doing it "outside" of excel and then opening it up in
excel it's getting confused - which is probably why MS doesn't allow you to
do it from within excel ... btw it doesn't seem to be a problem if you don't
rename the sheet tabs.

BTW it also behaves exactly the same in ver 2002

Cheers
julieD


"Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> Julie,
>
> Thanks for your reply
>
> Perhaps I wasn't clear.
> This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.
>
>
> --
> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>
>
> "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Hi Rob
>>
>> this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003 does
>> not support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick
>> google search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order will
>> bring up recent discussions on the topic)
>>
>> if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can email
>> them at
>> [email protected]
>>
>> with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
>> functionality put back in or whatever.
>>
>> Cheers
>> JulieD
>>
>> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:%[email protected]...
>>> Hi.
>>>
>>> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
>>> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
>>>
>>> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a bug
>>> to them!
>>>
>>> Create a new workbook
>>> Save this as test.xls
>>> rename test.xls to test[].xls
>>> open test[].xls
>>> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of
>>> Sheet1
>>> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thanks Julie - bug confirmed.

--
Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel


"JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> hi Rob
>
> my glasses obviously need cleaning - however, MS have never allowed
> filenames with [] in them (try doing a file / save and use the [] in the
> name), therefore, by doing it "outside" of excel and then opening it up in
> excel it's getting confused - which is probably why MS doesn't allow you
> to do it from within excel ... btw it doesn't seem to be a problem if you
> don't rename the sheet tabs.
>
> BTW it also behaves exactly the same in ver 2002
>
> Cheers
> julieD
>
>
> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
>> Julie,
>>
>> Thanks for your reply
>>
>> Perhaps I wasn't clear.
>> This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>
>>
>> "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> Hi Rob
>>>
>>> this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003 does
>>> not support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick
>>> google search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order will
>>> bring up recent discussions on the topic)
>>>
>>> if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can email
>>> them at
>>> [email protected]
>>>
>>> with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
>>> functionality put back in or whatever.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>> JulieD
>>>
>>> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> message news:%[email protected]...
>>>> Hi.
>>>>
>>>> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
>>>> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
>>>>
>>>> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a
>>>> bug to them!
>>>>
>>>> Create a new workbook
>>>> Save this as test.xls
>>>> rename test.xls to test[].xls
>>>> open test[].xls
>>>> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of
>>>> Sheet1
>>>> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Hi Rob

not sure if you're allowed to call it a "bug" if the thing that
precipitatesit isn't allowed by the program in the first place

Cheers
JuileD

"Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> Thanks Julie - bug confirmed.
>
> --
> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>
>
> "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
>> hi Rob
>>
>> my glasses obviously need cleaning - however, MS have never allowed
>> filenames with [] in them (try doing a file / save and use the [] in the
>> name), therefore, by doing it "outside" of excel and then opening it up
>> in excel it's getting confused - which is probably why MS doesn't allow
>> you to do it from within excel ... btw it doesn't seem to be a problem if
>> you don't rename the sheet tabs.
>>
>> BTW it also behaves exactly the same in ver 2002
>>
>> Cheers
>> julieD
>>
>>
>> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:%[email protected]...
>>> Julie,
>>>
>>> Thanks for your reply
>>>
>>> Perhaps I wasn't clear.
>>> This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>>
>>>
>>> "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> Hi Rob
>>>>
>>>> this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003 does
>>>> not support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick
>>>> google search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order
>>>> will bring up recent discussions on the topic)
>>>>
>>>> if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can email
>>>> them at
>>>> [email protected]
>>>>
>>>> with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
>>>> functionality put back in or whatever.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>> JulieD
>>>>
>>>> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>> message news:%[email protected]...
>>>>> Hi.
>>>>>
>>>>> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please doublecheck.
>>>>> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
>>>>>
>>>>> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a
>>>>> bug to them!
>>>>>
>>>>> Create a new workbook
>>>>> Save this as test.xls
>>>>> rename test.xls to test[].xls
>>>>> open test[].xls
>>>>> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of
>>>>> Sheet1
>>>>> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

But if the OS allows you to add [] and no MS product recognise fields with
[], that's a bug. It may be different development teams, but it is one
organisation.

"JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Rob
>
> not sure if you're allowed to call it a "bug" if the thing that
> precipitatesit isn't allowed by the program in the first place
>
> Cheers
> JuileD
>
> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
> > Thanks Julie - bug confirmed.
> >
> > --
> > Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
> >
> >
> > "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:%[email protected]...
> >> hi Rob
> >>
> >> my glasses obviously need cleaning - however, MS have never allowed
> >> filenames with [] in them (try doing a file / save and use the [] in
the
> >> name), therefore, by doing it "outside" of excel and then opening it up
> >> in excel it's getting confused - which is probably why MS doesn't allow
> >> you to do it from within excel ... btw it doesn't seem to be a problem
if
> >> you don't rename the sheet tabs.
> >>
> >> BTW it also behaves exactly the same in ver 2002
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >> julieD
> >>
> >>
> >> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
> >> news:%[email protected]...
> >>> Julie,
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for your reply
> >>>
> >>> Perhaps I wasn't clear.
> >>> This issue has to do with [ ] in workbook names, not worksheet names.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "JulieD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >>> news:[email protected]...
> >>>> Hi Rob
> >>>>
> >>>> this has been raised in these ngs before - it seems that ver 2003
does
> >>>> not support the use of [ or ] in worksheet names any more - a quick
> >>>> google search (on "worksheet names" and 2003 - sorted by date order
> >>>> will bring up recent discussions on the topic)
> >>>>
> >>>> if you'ld like to submit a request / suggestion etc to MS you can
email
> >>>> them at
> >>>> [email protected]
> >>>>
> >>>> with Excel in the subject line and an outline of why you'll like this
> >>>> functionality put back in or whatever.
> >>>>
> >>>> Cheers
> >>>> JulieD
> >>>>
> >>>> "Rob van Gelder" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >>>> message news:%[email protected]...
> >>>>> Hi.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I might have stumbled across a bug - could someone please
doublecheck.
> >>>>> I'm using Excel 2003 SP1
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I would submit this Microsoft but I dont have a clue how to submit a
> >>>>> bug to them!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Create a new workbook
> >>>>> Save this as test.xls
> >>>>> rename test.xls to test[].xls
> >>>>> open test[].xls
> >>>>> rename the worksheet to have a space in it. eg. Sheet 1 instead of
> >>>>> Sheet1
> >>>>> The sheet name becomes .xls]Sheet 1
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Rob van Gelder - http://www.vangelder.co.nz/excel
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Of course, not everyone runs XL on an OS from that organization (and XL
was originally developed for Macintosh, long before Windows was viable).

That said, it does seem rather short-sighted of Office devs not to come
up with a way of dealing with *all* potential filenames.


In article <eJ#[email protected]>,
"Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote:

> But if the OS allows you to add [] and no MS product recognise fields with
> [], that's a bug. It may be different development teams, but it is one
> organisation.

Sorry JE, not slight intended against Mac users, I just forget :-)

Bob

"JE McGimpsey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Of course, not everyone runs XL on an OS from that organization (and XL
> was originally developed for Macintosh, long before Windows was viable).
>
> That said, it does seem rather short-sighted of Office devs not to come
> up with a way of dealing with *all* potential filenames.
>
>
> In article <eJ#[email protected]>,
> "Bob Phillips" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > But if the OS allows you to add [] and no MS product recognise fields
with
> > [], that's a bug. It may be different development teams, but it is one
> > organisation.

You can call it a bug if you want, but MS calls it as something outside
the specification of XL. I've filed a bug report about this -- and a
slew of related problems, which I assume you haven't discovered yet --
and appealed the initial closure of the bug report. Nonetheless, it
was closed with the end result that XL doesn't allow characters in
filenames that are OK with the OS.

In fact, if you know how (or accidentally as in my case) it is possible
to even create a sheet with disallowed characters in its name! XL will
handle such a sheet but in a limited manner.

The eventual result may (will?) be a series of unexpected XL errors but
that's the way it is.

--
Regards,

Tushar Mehta
www.tushar-mehta.com
Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
Custom MS Office productivity solutions

In article <#[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Thanks Julie - bug confirmed.
>
>