Urgent Excel help required...

EagerLearner

If you rightclick the spreadsheets' icon, then does it give you an option to rename?

Say it's called 'myfile' now - just rename it 'myfile.xls' and see if that helps? If it doesn't, just rename it back to 'myfile'.

When you have been opening the file, you say nothing shows up - does a gray blank screen show up?

Or can you see the data you want, but unable to type?

Lifeisbutadream

Reggie_Rebel wrote: »

http://www.openoffice.org/

Try copying your files to another location, then renaming them as .csv files and see if you can open them.

Obvious questions are:
1 - Is your copy of excel legit?
2 - is it a trial version that has expired?

Copy of excel should be legit.

When I bought the PC I asked for full versions of everything and the bloke who I bought it off put everything on it, but just copies. I didnt realise until it went wrong and so then bought legit versions, but when I put it all on to the system nothing changed, so I dont know for deifnate that the legit ones are on here, if you know what I mean?

Lifeisbutadream

EagerLearner wrote: »

If you rightclick the spreadsheets' icon, then does it give you an option to rename?

Say it's called 'myfile' now - just rename it 'myfile.xls' and see if that helps? If it doesn't, just rename it back to 'myfile'.

When you have been opening the file, you say nothing shows up - does a gray blank screen show up?

Or can you see the data you want, but unable to type?

I can rename, but it doesnt change anything _ i can open up in Excel but it doesnt work (except when I open up Excel and then go from there)

I see the data that I want but am unable to type and unable to open up other worksheets.

scottishlass

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Originally Posted by EagerLearner

What happens if you don't open Excel, and just double click on the spreadsheet?

Thats when it seems to stick - could that be the problem?.................

You could try this

Office button, Excel options, Advanced tab, general section:
make sure "Ignore other applications that use DDE" is unchecked

should then allow you to double click

(The above fix is to the bug that appears with Excel 2007 not being able to open xls files on double click. This may not be your problem but the above seems similar to those that did have that problem)

Lifeisbutadream

davetrousers wrote: »

Don't know about vista but in XP, it is the default setting to hide (not display ) extensions for known file types!

Go to (something like) Tools, Folder Options, then to view then scroll down and uncheck the box that says Hide extensions for known file types.

Done that now thanks - they are all .xls

Lifeisbutadream

scottishlass wrote: »

You could try this

Office button, Excel options, Advanced tab, general section:
make sure "Ignore other applications that use DDE" is unchecked

should then allow you to double click

Sorry should have been clearer - it allows me to couble click and open the spreadsheet, but then I am unable to work in it or click on other worksheets within the spreadsheet.

callow

Try using System Restore to a date when you knew it was working.

scottishlass

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Sorry should have been clearer - it allows me to couble click and open the spreadsheet, but then I am unable to work in it or click on other worksheets within the spreadsheet.

Oh right - well was worth a try as the bug meant people could open Excel just not the document...I'm afraid if you're not getting any warning messages I'm not to sure what else to suggest other than whats already been posted.

stevemcol

I know you're getting random advice from everyone and this may not help but have you switched on any form of file protection, deliberately or inadvertantly (via 'tools' 'protection')?

Also can you open Excel, create a simple spreadsheet, save it, open it and work on it again? That will tell you whether the problem is with the files or excel.

EagerLearner

I was wondering that too - as when you choose to protect the file, or cells in a file, it has similar scenario to what the OP is saying? Ie: you can see all the data but make no changes... Hard to do it accidentally, but stranger things have happened!