XL: Right-Bracket in Text File Name Causes Problems

ID: Q154876

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above, you may receive the following error message when you try to rename a sheet tab:

   While renaming a sheet, you entered an invalid sheet name. The
   following are possible reasons for this:

The error message then goes on to explain potential reasons why the error is occurring.

CAUSE

This error message occurs if you open a text file whose name contains a right bracket character (]) and then try to rename the file's sheet tab.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, make sure your text file name does not contain a right bracket character (]) before you open the file in Microsoft Excel. Preferably, the file name should also not contain a left bracket character ([).

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, the left and right bracket characters ([, ]) have special meaning. In worksheet formulas, they are used to separate the workbook name from the names of sheets contained within the workbook. For example:

   =[Book1.xls]Sheet1!$A$1

If you open a file whose name contains either a left or a right bracket, Microsoft Excel may mishandle the file's name, causing the problem described earlier. Note, a file whose name contains a left bracket character but not a right bracket character should not be affected by this problem.

REFERENCES

For more information about renaming sheet tabs, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   renaming sheets

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Rename a sheet" topic.

Additional query words: right bracket left brace square

Version           : WINDOWS:97; MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 7, 1999