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Excel Files saving in invalid file format

Anonymous
2015-03-21T02:28:34+00:00

I recently bought an Acer Switch 12 and installed Microsoft Office 2013 on it. 

Midway through last week, I've been encountering this error:

The error is not restricted to just the file above. It's been happening to most of the excel files I am constantly using, and I cannot determine the cause.

I have already run my antivirus, malware and spyware softwares, including Microsoft Safety Scanner, but the error still persists. I have had to restore my files several times already, to the point that any work I've done for a day sometimes get negated by the restoration. Can somebody help me with my problem?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-26T11:25:52+00:00

    @Kristine De Guzman,

    The missing header was all it was lacking, after all.

    The good news is that, this was easy (with the appropriate tool) to reconstruct it.

    And the file is now fine for use in any Excel version.

    I have uploaded it here : http://www.arstdesign.com/papers/2015\_GSN\_applicant\_tracker\_Copy.2.zip

    (It's a 882 KB file. It's zipped that's why it's ten times smaller than yours)

    Question is how to avoid this in the future. Answer begins by testing if this is a systematic problem in your current Excel 2013 install. You can answer the question by creating a trivial file.

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  1. OssieMac 47,981 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2015-03-24T07:15:59+00:00

    It appears that the Office Compatibility pack is still available for the earlier versions of Office so that they can open files in the newer (xlsx) format.  Link below.

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=3

    Note that there is no Microsoft support (updates) anymore for these earlier versions of office.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-25T12:19:16+00:00

    Can you post one of those files somewhere?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-26T03:28:38+00:00

    Can you post one of those files somewhere?

    Hi Stephane,

    Can you access it from this link?

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/burot7cbcf3uldm/2015%20GSN%20applicant%20tracker%20-%20Copy.xls?dl=0

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-26T04:08:29+00:00

    Re:  Invalid file format

    Kristine,

    FWIW, both xl2010 and xl2003 would not open your file and instead displayed the invalid file format message.  I have the Compatibility Pack installed and can open .xls or .xlsx files in either Excel version.

    [Edit]

    Also, I tried opening the file in Firefox, Word 2003 and the Excel Viewer with no luck.

    It does open in Notepad, but that doesn't make it useable.

    I would try opening the file in Libre Office/Open Office (free ersatz Office versions)

    (They are very large files)

    [End Edit]

    Hope you have a backup copy somewhere.

    '---

    Jim Cone

    Portland, Oregon

    free & commercial excel programs  (n/a xl2013)

    https://jumpshare.com/b/O5FC6LaBQ6U3UPXjOmX2

    -or-

    http://jmp.sh/K95N3ee

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