If you facing the error: 'the workbook cannot be opened or repaired by Microsoft Excel because it is corrupted' - you are in the right place!
Sketch 3 android. Microsoft Excel up until 2007 version used a proprietary binary file format called Excel Binary File Format (.XLS) as its primary format. Excel 2007 uses Office Open XML as its primary file format, an XML-based format that followed after a previous XML -based format called 'XML Spreadsheet' ('XMLSS'), first introduced in Excel 2002. XLSX is a file format created with Microsoft Excel, version from 2007 and younger. This file is a spreadsheet. All data distributed document and stored in the cells. Each cell has a unique address, which is denoted by the letters and Arabic numerals. XLSX file format is based on the Open XML. To reduce the size of the file is compressed ZIP.
Here, you will find out:
Excel file not opening is a common issue, and has been reported by thousands of Excel users across the world. What happens is, when you double-click on a file to open it, it opens but instead of showing the contents of the file, it shows a blank or grey screen. However, if your excel files do get corrupted and can't be recovered using conventional methods then these tips for excel file repair can be of use to you. Try saving the excel file in the HTML format. Try opening the excel file in MS Word. Try opening the excel file in MS Excel Viewer. Try disabling Macros. Microsoft Excel up until 2007 version used a proprietary binary file format called Excel Binary File Format (.XLS) as its primary format. Excel 2007 uses Office Open XML as its primary file format, an XML-based format that followed after a previous XML -based format called 'XML Spreadsheet' ('XMLSS'), first introduced in Excel 2002.
- reasons for the error
- 4 methods of how to fix it
- how Excel Recovery can help you
Are you ready? Let's read!
Reasons Excel cannot open a file
While working with Excel, you may see the message: Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid. This may occur for the following reasons:
- The document is damaged or incompatible with the current version of Excel.
- The document was edited several times in different versions of Excel.
- The Excel file was received by email.
If you still get an error message that Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid, there are some great methods to fix it!
Method 1.Change the file extension!
In all versions of Excel until 2007, documents were saved in the XLS format. But Excel since 2007 saves files in the XLSX format.
A mismatch between file extension and Excel version may cause the error 'Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid'. Therefore, all you need is to modify the file format and it will become available.
Open Excel and, on the taskbar, select File. Then select Options -> Export -> Change File Type.
You need to directly change the file extension depending on the version of Excel installed.
Check if the error 'Excel cannot open the file' is resolved. If not, read on.
Method 2. Current version of Excel cannot open the file? The previous version can help!
Try to restore Excel from the previous version. Select the damaged file with the right mouse button and click Properties -> Previous Version. https://glow-download.mystrikingly.com/blog/palm-springs-area-casinos. A list of previous versions will appear; you need to select the option you are interested in and click Restore.
If you have enabled the autosave feature in advance, you can safely use this method to eliminate the error 'Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid'.
To do this, go to the application and on the Taskbar click on File, then select the Information with the left mouse button. A list of files that have been automatically saved will appear. Right click on the file you need and select restore. You will be prompted to save it, create a new name, enable XLSX and click Save.
Method 3. Excel cannot open the file? 'Open and Repair' feature will help you!
This is a built-in easy-to-handle MS Excel utility that allows you to correct the error excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid.
Enter the Excel application and on the Taskbar click File, select Open from the list, then click on your inaccessible file. Now click Open and Repair.
As a result, you will no longer see the message of the workbook cannot be opened or repaired by microsoft excel because it is corrupted and you will be able to use the file again.
If for any reason this method did not suit you, do not worry, there is another proven method!
Method 4. Excel cannot open the file? Use DiskInternals Excel Recovery!
DiskInternals Excel Recovery is a great solution for you, as this software is designed specifically for recovering Excel files. And for DiskInternals Excel Recovery, the Excel cannot open the file because the extension is not valid in Excel 2013 this is easier than ever.
The software uses a list of signatures associated with the Microsoft XLS, XLSX file format to accurately determine the beginning and end of each file. This product works in all versions of Windows, can recover files from all versions of Microsoft Excel (2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, etc.).
This software has a lot of additional functions that make the work in the installation convenient and understandable. For example, the Preview function before recovery, which is also free, will help you to select the necessary files for recovery and also ensure that they will be restored correctly. If you need the latest version of the file or a specific header, you can use the 'On the Fly' filter, thereby reducing the scanning time.
https://trueoload471.weebly.com/best-way-to-buy-word.html. Download free trial version of DiskInternals Excel Recovery and make sure that this is the best solution to your problem.
Recover Excel file with DiskInternals Excel Recovery!
For more confidence, use a step-by-step guide to repair a damaged XLS file using DiskInternals Excel Recovery.
Step 1. Free android to pc file transfer. Install and run DiskInternals Excel Recovery.
Step 2. The recovery wizard will start automatically and ask you to select the disk where the lost data and the type of files you want to recover. Select XLS, XLSX.
Step 3. Scan. This may take some time and depends on the size of the disk on which the files were located.
Step 4. Y drive windows 10. Preview lost data. View deleted files by right-clicking on them and selecting 'Preview in a new window'.
Step 5. Recovery. Click the 'Restore' button and the software will automatically restore the Excel files. Bluestacks for ipad mini.
Step 6. Save files. To do this, buy a software license and enter the license key. Then click on 'Save'. Save recovered documents in a safe place.
As you can see, this method is the most reliable. Do not be lazy and download this software if the files are important for you.
Good luck!
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Skyler set us a note about her Microsoft Excel spreadsheet not opening:
'I work as an analyst and have a significant number of old .xls files were created in the previous versions of Excel. Now that i have upgraded to the new version, Excel 365 won't open the existing files telling me that they are corrupted and can't be opened. Is there any possible way to associate or convert Excel 2003 files to/in version 2016 or 2019, so they'll open up correctly? I have invested significant amount of work in those files and would hate starting all the work from scratch :-(.
Many readers have asked us about how to troubleshoot compatibility issues between older Office versions and the existing version 2016. In this post we'll discuss what to actually do if Excel is not opening your existing .xls format files or won't save changes you make to existing spreadsheets into a new format. Although we have written the tutorial specifically for Excel, the information and procedure below are obviously fully applicable to other relevant Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Visio.
Set your Trust Center settings
Excel File Format Codes
- Open Microsoft Excel 2016, hit File and select Options.
- In the dialog box select Trust Center and hit on Trust center settings.
- Select Protected view on the left, un-checkall the options in the Protected View section and select OK.
- Now restart Excel 2016 and try to open the legacy Excel workbook.
Converting xls files to 2016/2019
Compatibility Mode allows to convert Office files so they become usable in later versions.
Two caveats with using Compatibility on your existing xls workbooks:
- It changes the layout of your document or spreadsheet.
- It is not reversible – once the file is converted to the new format; in this case – .xlsx; you won't be able to revert the file to the .xls version. Therefore our recommendation is to backup the file by simply creating a copy of it before you go ahead and follow the steps below:
Fine with the two caveats above? Please proceed as following to convert your workbook to version 2016:
- Open your existing spreadsheet.
- First off, secure your current work by making a backup of the existing spreadsheet by saving it with a different file name. You might want to add the suffix before_converting to the file name (File>>Save As>>Set the new file name with the suffix and select the current file type)
- Now, hit File.
- In the Compatibility Mode section, Hit Convert.
- If prompted, hit OK
- Your old spreadsheet will go through the conversion process and modified to version 2016/2013.
Set Excel's default format to .xls
This should probably be your last resort, but if the steps below didn't help, you might want to try setting the Excel 97-2003 workbook format to be the default in Office 2016-2019. If this sounds like a possible solution to you, proceed as following:
- Open Excel 2016, click on File and select Options.
- Click on Save on the left and in the Save files in this format drop down box, select Excel 97-2003 workbook.
- Hit OK.
- Now the default save format option for Excel documents will be as a xls file.
- Voi'la you are able to open older Excel versions in Excel 2016.
Converting Excel workbooks with VBA Macros or Python scripts
If you have a very significant amount of documents you would like to convert, you could potentially automate the entire task. Feel free to contact us for more details.
