Excell file not opening 2

[mmerlinn]

[ ]
Friday we were using an Excel file on a G3 MAC OS 9.2 and everything was working fine just as it had worked for years.

Today, I double-clicked on the file to open it as I usually do and all that happened is that Excel loaded, but the file did not load. I spent an hour trying various things to open the file, but Excel cannot find it even though the file shows on my desktop.

I tried copying the file. Same thing. Nothing. Both files show that they are 108K long. Its as if the file has a "deleted" flag set somewhere in the file.

Downloaded an older version of the file off of the internet. Same length, 108K. Double-clicked it and everything works as expected.

So, apparently there is nothing wrong with Excel. It must be a corrupted file. Now the question is, How do I recover it?

Is there a source somewhere to find a file recovery program for a Mac this old? Download.com does not have any for MAC OS 9 or earlier.

Or am I going to be forced to write a FoxPro file scraping program to recover the data from the file? And if I need to write one, does anyone know how Excel stores info in the files?

Finally, if this is not the correct forum, could someone direct me to the correct one?

mmerlinn

http://mmerlinn.com

Poor people do not hire employees. If you soak the rich, who are you going to work for?

"We've found by experience that people who are careless and sloppy writers are usually also careless and sloppy at thinking and coding. Answering questions for careless and sloppy thinkers is not rewarding." - Eric Raymond

 

[xlhelp]

Most likely, you need to clear Ignore other applications.

I wouldn't know where or if it is on Mac version.



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I should live a long time - I eat a lot of preservatives.

 

[bubba100]

You state that when you try and open the file it does nothing. Does that mean Excel does nothing- it just sits there or it does nothing and opened a blank Excel screen that is gray.

Try opening Excel first then create a new blank workbook. If you can, then with the blank workbook open either double click on you file or do a File>Open. If you are able to do this but still can't "see anything" your file might be hidden.

 

[mmerlinn]

[ ]
bubba100

When I double-click on the file, Excel starts, but does not open any page. All that happens is that the Excel tool bars come up, but no page, blank or otherwise. I can open any other Excel file from the toolbar including a new blank workbook, but no matter what I do, the file I want won't open.

If the file I want is hidden, how do I unhide it? And how did it get hidden in the first place? I am the only one who uses Excel and the only one who uses that stand-alone computer.

mmerlinn

http://mmerlinn.com

Poor people do not hire employees. If you soak the rich, who are you going to work for?

"We've found by experience that people who are careless and sloppy writers are usually also careless and sloppy at thinking and coding. Answering questions for careless and sloppy thinkers is not rewarding." - Eric Raymond

 

[Gavona]

To unhide in xl2003: Window, Unhide

If you use VBA/Macros then there is another way it could be hidden but seems unlikely to have occured by accident.

Gavin

 

[bubba100]

If your file is hidden Gavin is correct. There are shortcut keys to hide the current window (the active file) Ctrl-W-H while shortcut Ctrl-W-U unhides. Maybe two or three times a year I get a frantic call "my file is gone". Somehow they hide it.

Hopefully this will take care of you.

 

[mmerlinn]

[ ]

Thank you. It was hidden. Now back where I can use it. Stars coming.

mmerlinn

http://mmerlinn.com

Poor people do not hire employees. If you soak the rich, who are you going to work for?

"We've found by experience that people who are careless and sloppy writers are usually also careless and sloppy at thinking and coding. Answering questions for careless and sloppy thinkers is not rewarding." - Eric Raymond