Excel 2.x: Can't Open or Save More Documents Error Message

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.0, 1.5, 2.2
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.1

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Excel, you may receive the following error message:

   Can't open or save more documents

CAUSE

You receive this error message if Microsoft Excel is accessing the maximum number of files allowed by the Macintosh System (approximately 32 depending on the version of Microsoft Excel you are using). This error message appears when there is not enough memory to open or save any more documents.

WORKAROUND

To open more documents or save a currently open document with read and write access, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Close documents you no longer need.

Method 2: Close and then reopen some of your documents as read-only.

          (Read-only documents require less memory than documents with read
          and write access.)

MORE INFORMATION

After you receive this error message, you can still create additional documents by choosing New from the File menu, but you cannot save these files until you have closed some of the currently open saved files. There is no limit, except available memory, to the number of new, unsaved files that can be open at one time.

Note: It is possible that Microsoft Excel version 2.2 generates this error message when Microsoft Excel version 1.5 does not, because Microsoft Excel 2.2 opens and maintains an "Excel Settings" file. This reduces by one the number of files that can be opened in Microsoft Excel 2.2.