ftmds1@acad3.alaska.edu (SMITH MICHAEL D) (01/20/91)
I have 2 Excel spreadsheets that somehow got corrupted (I think it just 1
bad line). One reads 40% and the other reads 5% and then Excel says "Unable to
read file". Question, is there any way to override Excel and force it to keep
reading, or translate it in to a text file (Its stored as an Excel 2.2 file).
I tried the MacLink translators, but it doesn't translate v2 Excels files, just
copies them since PC Excel can directly read the files. Any ideas.
Mike Smith
Wildlife Biology Grad Student
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
FTMDS1@Alaska or FTMDS1@Acad3.Fai.Eduftmds1@acad3.alaska.edu (SMITH MICHAEL D) (01/30/91)
A week ago I had some corrupted Excel spreadsheets. I got a lot of requests to
post what I found out. So here is a list of methods that I tried and the
results.
1. Using DeltaGraph 1.5 Import Excel Ability: This worked well until it got to
the problem area, then it stopped. Good if Excel reads to 90+% and then says
Unable to Open File.
2. Used a program called XL-lint Recover which is supposed recover damaged
Excel spreadsheets, unfortunately it didn't work for me
3. Used the external linking ability of Excel. I got this from a Microsoft
support person on CIS, and it worked wonderfully. Only about 10% didn't get
recovered. Here's how to do it.
RECOVERING FILES
----------------
In many cases, you can recover data from a damaged file that will not
open by linking to the information in that file. The following steps
can be used to link to an unopened spreadsheet:
1. Open a blank spreadsheet in Excel.
2. Select a range of cells the size of the area on the worksheet you
wish to link to. For example, to link from A1 to D25 of the closed
worksheet, highlight that range on the new worksheet.
3. Type an equal sign (=), an apostrophe ('), the name of the file to
be linked to, another apostrophe, an exclamation point (!), and
then the range of the cells that are currently selected using
absolute references. For example, enter the following:
='data file'!$A$1:$D$25
4. Hold down the COMMAND key and press the ENTER key on the numeric
keypad.
At this point, the block of data from the closed spreadsheet should
appear in the selected range.
5. Select Copy from the Edit menu.
6. Select Paste Special from the Edit menu.
7. Specify Values and click OK.
You can use this procedure as many times as necessary to recover the
entire file. The data ranges can be varied as long as the range is not
too large. If the selected range is too big to enter an array formula,
the program will display a dialog box to notify you of this and then
you can try again with a smaller range.
If the data range you specify extends to blank cells in the closed
spreadsheet, the array formula will return 0 for the blank cells.
Hope this helps. If anybody has any further questions or would like a copy of
the XL-lint recover program (sorry but the docs asked that it not be generally
posted or I'd just send it to Sumex), let me know.
Michael D. Smith
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Institute of Arctic Biology
BitNet:FTMDS1@Alaska
Internet:FTMDS1@Acad3.Alaska.EduDouglas.Welch@p7.f823.n102.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Douglas Welch) (02/03/91)
Thanks for the amzing info on recovering Excel files. I will have many people
who will be kissing my ring on this one!!!!!
Douglas E. Welch
tecstar!dewelch@stb.info.com
CIS: 76625,3301
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