Excel cannot open this file

Question

We have three excel files, in the same folder, created on iPad that cannot be opened through OneDrive Online or on a computer.

When trying to open on any Mac who has access to this folder, I get this message:  

When trying to open online, I get this message:

I have tried restoring an older version with no luck. I also get this error when trying to open a file from online:

When trying to open on an iPad, I get this message: "Can't open file.  Microsoft Excel can't open the file 'filename'.xlsx' because its file format or file extension isn't valid, or the file might be damaged."

To summarize, three separate people are creating excel files on their own iPad.  The files are then emailed to another person who saves them in her OneDrive shared folder.  The Excel files cannot be opened from OneDrive or Online or even the original file sent through email.

iPad Excel Version:  2.1

Mac Excel Version:  15.34

Mac OneDrive Version: 17.3.6725

Thoughts?  Advice?

Thanks.

Answer 1

You may check this article:

https://kellynford.com/2012/01/30/fix-for-excel-for-mac-2011-excel-cannot-open-this-file-the-file-format-or-file-extension-is-not-valid/

Make sure your hard drive name has no problematic characters.

Does the issue happens after you upgrade your Excel?

Answer 2

Thanks jackpro999.

However I have found that Excel on the iPad is still having troubles when opening Template files. (xltx).  When opening the template file with Excel, it is not creating a new file like it should.  This is happening when I open the template file from OneDrive and also when opening it from Apple Mail.  

So now what is happening is that this template file is being opened in excel, the end user saves the file in their OneDrive (or might email it out again), and the extension by default is xlsx.  However this is when the issue arrises - this file cannot be opened anymore.  

I found that if I change the extension back to xltx - the file opens up normal again.  I hope Microsoft fixes this soon.

The way it should be and has been in the past:  At all times, when opening a template file it should create a new file named "Book" or "workbook" or similar.  So the original file cannot be saved over.

Answer 3

Hi

1. Excel template file(xltx) is not support for opening and editing. You can just open it as Read-Only. See this article:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Why-can-t-I-open-my-Excel-file-2daa6bd6-8db5-4521-9f37-7e23b3e4bdab?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

2. You are correct, if we open the Template file (xltx) file stored online, it will generate a new file automatically named Book.

Try resetting Excel and turn on both Clear All Workbooks and Delete Sign-in Credentials to check the outcome.

Steven

Answer 4

Hi Adam,

Can you open the saved .xlsx file now? If the issue remains, please provide a screenshot of the error.

Regards,

James

Answer 5

All,

Thanks for your replies however it has not helped my situation.

I am tired of having to Reset Excel.  This seems to be the go to answer.  I should not have to do this with an application so many times.

I have a template file for our employees to use.  Reason for the template file is exactly that it is read only and it is never overwritten - just like Stephen mentioned.  However, I used to be able to browse to the template file with the OneDrive app, tap on the Template file and it would open in Excel as a new file named "Book" or "WorkBook" or similar - so the original template file would not be overwritten.  This was how it worked with some version 1.x.x of OneDrive for iPad.

Now when the template file is "opened" from OneDrive - it does not create a new xlsx file properly and it will save any changes to the template file.

I have also seen in a few cases, the Template is opened from OneDrive and the user needs to save as a new file.  The file extension will be xlsx but this file cannot be opened with excel later.  If I change the file extension from xlsx to xltx - I can open the file again.

So, the OneDrive app needs to be changed to create a new file when someone tries to open a template file. 

Hope this gets fixed in the software.