XL: Handling Corrupted Excel Files by Saving in the SYLK Format

ID: Q45557

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

If you suspect that you have a corrupted Microsoft Excel file and you are able to open the file, you can use the following method to "filter" the file. This method does not save worksheet elements that are not available in Microsoft Excel version 2.x; for example, graphic objects will not be saved.


MORE INFORMATION

Use the appropriate method for your version of Excel.

Microsoft Excel 7.x and 97

  1. Open the file that appears to be corrupted.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save As Type list, click SYLK (Symbolic Link), and then click Save.

    NOTE: Only the active sheet in the workbook is saved when you use the SYLK file format. Click OK on the warning message that appears when you save in SYLK format.


  4. On the File menu, click Close. When you click Close, you will be warned that the file you are closing is not in the normal Microsoft Excel format. Click the No button to save it as a SYLK file.

    Clicking Yes will resave the file in the normal Microsoft Excel format, and this will not strip out any of the file information.


  5. On the File menu, click Open.


  6. Select the .slk file you saved in step 3, and click Open.

    NOTE: To see the .slk file, you may need to click All Files (*.*) in the Files of Type list.


  7. On the File menu, click Save As.


  8. In the Save as Type box, click Microsoft Excel Workbook (*.xls), and then click Save.


Microsoft Excel for Windows, Versions 4.0 and 5.0

  1. Open the file that appears to be corrupted.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save File As Type list, click SYLK, and then click OK.

    NOTE: Only the active sheet in the workbook is saved when you use the SYLK file format. Click OK on the warning message that appears when you save in SYLK format.


  4. On the File menu, click Close. When you click Close, you will be warned that the file you are closing is not in the normal Microsoft Excel format. Click the No button to save it as a SYLK file.


  5. On the File menu, click Open.


  6. Select the .slk file you saved in step 3, and then click OK.

    NOTE: To see the .slk file, you may need to click All Files (*.*) in the List Files Of Type list.


  7. On the File menu, click Save As.


  8. If you are using Microsoft Excel version 4.0:

    In the Save As Type list, click Normal, and then click OK.

    -or-

    If you are using Microsoft Excel version 5.0:

    In the Save File As Type list, click Microsoft Excel Workbook, and then click OK.


Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, Version 5.0 and 98

  1. Open the file that appears to be corrupted.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save File As Type list, click SYLK (Symbolic Link).


  4. In the Save As box, type a new name for the file, and then click Save.

    NOTE: Only the active sheet in the workbook is saved when you use the SYLK file format. Click OK on the warning message that appears when you save in SYLK format.


  5. On the File menu, click Close. When you click Close, you will be warned that the file you are closing is not in the normal Microsoft Excel format. Click the No button to save it as a SYLK file.


  6. On the File menu, click Open.


  7. Select the file you saved in step 4, and click Open.

    NOTE: To see the file, you must click Readable Files in the List Files Of Type list.


  8. On the File menu, click Save As.


  9. In the Save File as Type list, click Microsoft Excel Workbook, and then click Save.


Earlier Versions (Windows and Macintosh)

  1. Open the file that appears to be corrupted.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. Click Options, click SYLK in the File Format box, click OK, and then click OK again.


  4. On the File menu, click Close. When you click Close, you will be warned that the file you are closing is not in the normal Microsoft Excel format. Click the No button to save it as a SYLK file.


  5. On the File menu, click Open.


  6. If you are using Microsoft Excel for Windows:

    In the File Name box, type *.slk. Then, select the .slk file, and click OK.

    -or-

    If you are using Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh:

    Select the .slk file, and click Open.


  7. Click Save As on the File menu.


  8. Click Options. Then, in the File Format box, click Normal and click OK.


  9. Click OK (Microsoft Excel for Windows) or click Save (Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh).


After you save the file in the SYLK format, if the file still appears to be corrupted, copy and paste the entire contents of the file to a new worksheet.

If neither of these methods corrects the problem, you may want to install Microsoft Excel on another computer to determine whether your Microsoft Excel disks are corrupted. If the disks work correctly on another computer, the problem may be related to other hardware or software on the computer with the problem in Microsoft Excel.

Possible reasons for file corruption include the following:

Additional query words: 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.20 3.0 4.00 5.0 corrupt 


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:2.x,3.x,4.x,5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:2.2,3.0,4.0,5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 3, 1999