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Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

  1. #1
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    Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    I can open and save the Excel file if I use a mapped drive path, but not if i open it using the full path.

    e:\sales\file.xls works fine, open, saves, re-opens.
    \\server\sales\file.xls opens, saves and is then its corrupt.

    I've experimented with this and its a consistent problem on 3 computers with various excel (2002, 2003 Small Buisness, 2003 Standard) versions and xp service packs (SP1, SP2, SP3). I also tried differnet opening methods, double click on the file vs excel>file>open>browse... and the only consistancy seems to be the path name. Has any one ever heard of anything like this?

    To add a bit more info, this file starts as a template and our off site salesmen fill it out and e-mail it in. The problem only occurrs with files from one of our 8 salesmen. We've re-installed MS Office and updated all his software, but the problem presists.

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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    It's corrupt and not just unopenable?

    If the path is too long (I think 255 characters including file name) then Excel can't open it - this could happen if the full path was long (of course if the path is as short as your example - it's nowhere near, but if it is only an example then this may make sense)

    Also - this would make sense if your one salesman's name is very long and the name is part of the filename?

    CC

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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    It is unreadable not corrupt. The error message says "Excel found unreadable content in "filename.xls'. Do you want to recover the contents of this workbook?" Recovering strips out all formatting and macro's, but the data is still there. I've tried enabling and disabling the marco's when opening the file and they don't seem to have any effect.

    The path with the server name is 45 characters including the "\"'s and the file nae has 27 characters including the ".xls"

    I've tried the same file in other folders and found the same problem. Some with shorter paths and some with longer paths names. I've tried Open and Repair on the initial file before it becomes unreadable, but nothing seems to make a difference except the path.

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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    ?

    It's a mystery.

    What happens if you give your awkward guy somebody else's workbook (adjusted as necessary)?

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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    The file he returned is from the current template that eveyone else is using without issue. I sent it to him Friday and he filled it out and returned it Monday.

    I cant help thinking that something is happening at his end, but except for this issue the file appears to be fine.

    He sent the template files back to me and they work fine, I've asked him to save the .xlt as an .xls and not to fill out the form. Basically a blank form that has been opened and saved on his computer. I'll re-post with the result of that.

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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    Yep, still have the issue. I instructed him to open the .xlt file and save it as an .xls, and not to do anything else with it. Still have the same issue. It opens and saves and can be re-opened using the mapped drive letter path but with the full server name path, as soon as it is saved, upon re-opening, there's the "unreadable content" error.

    He has sent me the .xlt template file and that can be opened and saved on our server as an .xls without problem, my guess is that it works because it is a .xlt template file and has not been opened and saved as the .xlt file again therefore it is in the same condition as when I sent it to him. I think something is happening when he opens it and saves it as an .xls file, but I have no idea what that could be, and I have no idea why it works with a mapped path and not the server path.

  7. #7
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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    I don't know what to say, I'm stumped
    Any other ideas would really just be "wild speculation" - I'd be guessing as much as you can on your own.

    I have messaged someone who is more clever than me - perhaps he'll have an idea...

  8. #8
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    Re: Excel file corrupt when saved thru full path but not mapped path...

    Thanks for you help. 2 more bits of info...
    1. It doesnt matter if he saves the file using "Save" or "Save As" or if he saves it back as an .xlt or to an .xls. Just experimenting with different things.

    2. The file size drops from 1.5mb to 1.2mb when he saves it, but when I save the template to an .xls it remains 1.5mb. We are definately losing some file info when he saves. The template file does contain macros and windows forms, all are functional until its saved to our server through the server path.

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