Excel: Crosstabs May Return Error "Bad File Operation"

The information in this article applies only to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0.

SYMPTOMS

If you are running a network installation of Microsoft Excel, and you create a crosstab table, you may receive the following error message if the network share where Microsoft Excel is installed is read-only:

   Bad File Operation. Try freeing additional disk space and repeating
   crosstab.

CAUSE

Crosstab ReportWizard will not run normally until the new file creation process is initiated. When the Crosstab ReporWizard attempts to create a new file on the write-protected network drive, the attempt fails, and the above error message is displayed.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do either of the following:

• Make sure that you have write privileges to the directory where Microsoft Excel is installed.

  -or-

• Install Microsoft Excel on a local hard drive.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in Microsoft Excel version 4.0a. The new version of the Crosstab Add-in works on a read-only share and does not generate the "Bad File Operation" error message.

NOTE: If you are using Microsoft Excel version 4.0a and you still receive this error message, you may be using an older crosstab file. Your crosstab files should have a creation date of 9/29/92 or later.