random numbers in filenames

[Lynn]

Hi,
i noticed that my excel files are being appended by random numbers when i
open them.
eg. a file named myfile.xls, when opened will be come myfile2.xls,
etc..etc..
is this normal?
thanks

 

[RagDyeR]

That appended number denotes that you have *additional* "windows" open of
that file.

If you would go to
<Window> <NewWindow>
You would see that number increase, meaning you have 3 windows open.

You probably can't see them until you go to
<Window> <Arrange>
And pick a display format (tiled, vertical ...etc.)

This allows you to see different parts of the same sheet, or different WBs,
at the same time.

If you <Save> and close the WB while these "windows" are activated, they'll
keep opening with the WB.

To eliminate them, you must close each window, and then <Save> the WB.
The easiest way to do this is
<Ctrl> <W>
*until* you have the original sheet name *without* the appended number.

NOW, <Save> before closing!
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================


Hi,
i noticed that my excel files are being appended by random numbers when i
open them.
eg. a file named myfile.xls, when opened will be come myfile2.xls,
etc..etc..
is this normal?
thanks

 

[pfsardella]

Using Excel 97, when I create a new window for a file, I get a number
appended to the filename with a colon (filename.xls:2). Is it
different for different versions of Excel?

Paul

 

[Dave Peterson]

Nope.

Either the OP mistated the problem or RagDyeR answered a different question
<bg>.

 

[Dave Peterson]

And if the OP meant that the title bar showed myfile2 (without the .xls), then
maybe the workbook is being opened as a template--not as a "real" workbook.

But if that were the case, you wouldn't see the .xls.

 

[Lynn]

This is what i did,
1) open myfile.xls from C drive
2) open myfile.xls from outlook attachment and i see that it opens up as
myfile2.xls
3) closed the original spreadsheet and myfile2.xls
4) now i opened the spreadsheet attached in outlook. I still see that the
name is still myfile2.xls
why is this so?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think that it's happening because of Outlook. For some reason, Outlook sees
that there is a file already named myfile.xls (I think in the temporary internet
file folder, IIRC).

So it figures that it can't use that name again and appends a character to make
the filename unique.

If you're using xl2k (or higher), next time you open an attachment from outlook,
do a File|SaveAs. You should see the foldername that attachment is stored in.
Take a look around in that File|open dialog and see the other filenames.

 

[Lynn]

is there anyway to prevent appending of a character on the excel filename?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Not that I'm aware of. But you may want to ask the same question in an Outlook
newsgroup.

We used to use netscape messenger as our mail client at work. It did the same
thing (appending a number when a file with that name already existed).

I learned to keep my windows temp folder empty and it helped with netscape. But
I think that Outlook uses one of those funny named folders under the Temporary
Intenet Files (in win98, this folder is under c:\windows).

But seeing what's in these folders is kind of a challenge. In windows 98, I can
still use:
Windows start button|Run|Winfile

If I rightclick on my C: drive (in windows explorer) and choose properties, I
can see a button on the General Tab called Disk cleanup. But in my experience,
it doesn't always clean up all my files.

 

[Dave Peterson]

You could also try starting up MS Internet Explorer
then Tools|Internet options|General Tab|Click on the Delete Files button
(in the temporary internet files section)