Excel97 saving problem (produces large file)

[medric2]

We have an intermitent problem with users saving excel97 files to our windows2003 server. Occassionally when saving, Excel looks as if it has locked up and has to be kiled off. It has in fact been creating a massive file on the server with a name composed of random letters. This file can reach 1Gb in size or higher depending on how long the user leaves it before they kill off Excel. This problem can affect win98, win2000 and winXP machines. It is only very intermitent and only affects files on network drives. If the same file is moved to a local drive and opened it saves OK. This is a workaround we have been using but we really need a proper solution to the problem.

 

[xlhelp]

Press CTRL/END to see what the last cell in your spreadsheet is. If this does not match with the last cell of data in your spreadsheet, then please look at

http://www.contextures.com/xlfaqApp.html#Unused.

Also, have you tried disabling your anti-virus just to see if it makes a difference?

Is there enough space on your destination drive for it save a temp file and the actual file? Is it partioned for each individual user?

Member- AAAA Association Against Acronym Abusers

 

[medric2]

Thanks for your reply xlhelp. I will check for the last data cell next time it happens. I haven't tried disabling the antivirus. We have real time protection on the PC and on the server. There is plenty of space on the server and every user has their own folder to which only they have access. Saying that the problem has happened to files which are stored in "shared" folders as well.

As I said the problem is very intermitent and can happen on random files. Files which have saved correctly for weeks suddenly exhibit the problem and to get round it we have to copy that file locally, make the changes and save it then move it back to the network. I suppose that fact in itself may suggest it's a server problem rather than a file problem.

 

[GlennUK]

Hi medric2,

I've seen some strange things happen with network stored files when the network latency is slow ... Excel can get confused whilst trying to maintain a network connection, causing "File Not Saved" errors, or file corruption, or file bloating. In fact this happens more often on Excel 97 than later versions of Excel ( in my experience anyway ), because in later versions of Excel you just get a complete crash instead ( and lose everything ). I hope this info might be of some use to your tech guys.

Cheers, Glenn.

Did you hear about the literalist show-jumper? He broke his nose jumping against the clock.