Too Many Cell Formats. Any Hot Tips?

[JK]

I've been struggling with the Too Many Cell Formats error message on and off
for months. Eliminating all but about 8 custom formats helped. Eliminating
borders and shading, using only Tahoma 10 and default alignment settings in
all hidden sheets helped. But Excel teases, it lets us think that we're
getting it, then it pops its ugly head up again.

Does anyone have any hot tips on how to tame this incedious beast? Perhaps a
software program. A book. Some do's and don'ts. During my last attempt only
about 100 cells reformatted (to an identical format) before the message
appeared, so I'm desperate. Thank you in advance.

Jim Kobzeff

 

[Dave Peterson]

I had to fix one of these things once. I ended up selecting a column at a
time. Changing the format for the whole column.

I could watch the format change until it neared the bottom and then xl would
yell. I had to save the workbook, close it and reopen to continue. (It was a
pain!)

Some people have said that OpenOffice can open these files with no problem.
(then fix/reduce the number of formats, save & close, and try opening in excel)

http://www.openoffice.org, a 60-65 meg download or a CD

(I wasn't aware of this when I had to do it. And I've never taken the time to
load OpenOffice.)

 

[Jim Cone]

Jim,

This Microsoft article tells what you know already, but take a look...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;213904
XL: Error Message: Too Many Different Cell Formats

I've got an Excel add-in that will remove all unused custom number format or styles.
Also, available is another add-in to simplify cell formatting by replacing cell borders
or cell interior colors with a single border weight or single interior color.

"Formats and Styles" and "Simplify Formats"
Available - free - upon direct request. Remove xxx from my email address.

Regards,
Jim Cone
San Francisco, CA
(e-mail address removed)