Excel Query File Corruption

Question

I have an excel file on sharepoint that I used yesterday. Today when I open it, I get a message that states, "We found a problem with some of the content in the "file" Do you want to try to recover..........  

When I click yes, it just shows me the values of all the pages. All the query information is no longer linked to the sheets. Then the queries that referenced other queries no longer work. I also have two external links and there seems to be no way to reconnect the reference. 

I have used the same file without changing anything for a couple hundred times so I have to think that it is a microsoft problem.

To top it all off, the old versions that were saved in SharePoint no longer work either. 

This happened to me a few months ago. I wasted many hours recreating everything. I can't redo this work every few months. Please help me to resolve or prevent.

This was the error message log file.

error266800_02.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<recoveryLog xmlns="http://sche##.openxm###.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main"><logFileName>error266800_02.xml</logFileName><summary>Errors were detected in file 'my file name'</summary><removedFeatures><removedFeature>Removed Feature: External data range from /xl/calcChain.xml part (Calculation properties)</removedFeature></removedFeatures></recoveryLog>

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Answer 1

I said the file is corrupted, but this is probably the wrong term to use. The file will open as stated in the opening comments.

It seems to me (based off the error log file, contents pasted below) that this has to do with the external data source.  I am using an *.iqy file to connect to the external database. I have recreated the workbook and the exact same *.iqy file works perfectly. (This time I've created a few copies of the workbook as a backup)

error266800_02.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<recoveryLog xmlns="http://sche##.openxm###.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main"><logFileName>error266800_02.xml</logFileName><summary>Errors were detected in file 'my file name'</summary><removedFeatures><removedFeature>Removed Feature: External data range from /xl/calcChain.xml part (Calculation properties)</removedFeature></removedFeatures></recoveryLog>

Answer 2

Hi Walker,

Glad to hear that you can open that files again. And you are welcome to post threads when you need any help.

Thanks,

Neo

Answer 3

Hi Walker,

Sorry for your loss.

To recover your file, I'd like to suggest you check this article to see the outcome: Repair a corrupted workbook. If you still can't recover your file, since this issue only happens to this workbook, as a workaround, I'd like to suggest you create a new workbook and paste all contents from the issue related one.

Thanks,

Neo

Answer 4

I tried viewing the previous versions as stated in my original post, "To top it all off, the old versions that were saved in SharePoint no longer work either." They had the same result. All the queries were no longer loaded to a sheet. The original sheet only had fixed values equal the value they were before the corruption of the file.

Answers to your other questions.

1. Does this issue happen to all files/libraries even newly created ones or only happen to related ones?

Only this one

2. What action did you take to that workbook before this issue happens?

Opened to look at information and closed. The same as I've done hundreds of times.

3. Can you reproduce this issue under workbooks without queries?

No. This has only happened twice, but I'm loosing many hours of work when this happens and other people need to reference the same file. (I was the last one to modify the file)

Answer 5

Hi Walker,

To recover your corruption, I'd like to suggest you view the previous version of it and then restore it. You can follow this link to do so. Please have a try and share with me your result.

Besides, please also share with me more info as below to let me have a better understanding of your scenario:

1. Does this issue happen to all files/libraries even newly created ones or only happen to related ones?
2. What action did you take to that workbook before this issue happens?
3. Can you reproduce this issue under workbooks without queries?

Thanks,

Neo