Sharepoint Site corrupting Excel Documents

Question

Hi,
so currently we are getting ready .xls excel files, from a third party. Our work is to upload them on Sharepoint so that later we can use them in Power Automate and create a flow. The problem is the moment we upload .xls files on Sharepoint they broke and we can't access them. Sending them per email doesn't cause the problem, but our main task is based on uploading them on sharepoint. Has anyone encountred this and knows if there is a solution around it.
Thanks,
Ahmed

Answer 1

It seems that the issue you're encountering with .xls files becoming corrupted upon uploading to SharePoint could be related to how SharePoint handles file formats or the specific properties of the files. Unfortunately, the context provided does not contain specific information regarding .xls file corruption when uploaded to SharePoint.

However, here are some general troubleshooting steps you might consider:

1. Check File Format: Ensure that the .xls files are not corrupted before uploading. You can open them locally to confirm they function correctly.
2. File Size and Content: Sometimes, large files or files with complex content can cause issues. Try uploading a simpler .xls file to see if the problem persists.
3. Use Different Browsers: Occasionally, browser compatibility can affect file uploads. Try using a different browser to upload the files.
4. Check SharePoint Settings: Ensure that there are no restrictions or settings in SharePoint that might be affecting file uploads.
5. Upload via OneDrive: As a workaround, you could try uploading the files to OneDrive first and then move them to SharePoint.
6. Contact Support: If the issue continues, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance, as they may have more specific insights into the problem.

If you have any further information or specific error messages, that could help in diagnosing the issue more accurately.

Answer 2

Hello @Ahmed Chouchane,   

Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A forum! 

To support you better, please provide me more detail: 

1.Does this issue occur with all Excel .xls files, or only with specific files?  

I understand that you received the file from a third party. However, if possible, you try creating a new Excel file (.xlsx) locally and upload it to SharePoint to check if the same issue occurs. 

2.Could you provide the exact steps you follow when uploading the file to SharePoint? 

3.When you say the file is corrupted, do you see any error messages? 

If yes, you can share a screenshot of the error for further analysis. I can help you blur or hide any personal information if needed.   

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Additionally, based on my research, modern SharePoint and Power Automate are optimized for the .xlsx (Office Open XML) format. The .xls format is an older binary format and can sometimes cause issues when processed by web services or security mechanisms in SharePoint. 

So, you can try converting .xls files to .xlsx before uploading. You can use Excel or Power Automate Desktop to automate this conversion.  

Alternatively, you can create a flow that automatically saves incoming .xls files as .xlsx and then uploads them to SharePoint. 

Please understand that our initial response may not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to identify the root cause and find a solution.            

Looking forward to hearing from you.   

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