Large File Size

[Paula]

Hi, I work with very large excel files and have to send them externally, our
mail limit is 10MB which is often not enough for the file size.
For example, one file has macros, pivots and large amount of raw data across
multiple worksheets. I have read the contextures advice but do not know how
it would work for my file - do you have any ideas of how I can reduce the
size of a complex/dynamic data file as the data ranges are changeable
depending on which macro is used?
Many thanks for your advice. Paula

 

[Bob Phillips]

Can't you just zip them?

 

[Charles Williams]

Hi Paula,

You can check to see if the file contains used-range bloat by pressing
Ctrl-End on each sheet.
If there is no excess used-range its hard work to reduce file size from
within Excel.

Easier methods are:
Try zipping the file before emailing it (I use WinZip), this will usually
dramatically reduce the file size, unless you are using Excel 2007 which
mostly already uses a zipped format.

If its still too large then use one of the many File Transfer services such
as SendThisFile to send the zipped copy.
http://www.sendthisfile.com/


Charles
__________________________________________________
The Excel Calculation Site
http://www.decisionmodels.com

 

[Joel]

One way of reducing your file size is to replace worksheet functions and
pivot tables with macros. The disadvantage in doing this is the dependent
cells do not automatically update until the macro is executed.

You can run a quick experiment to see how much the file will reduce by
making a copy of you workbook and replace the formulas with values by using
paste special

Highlight all the cells on the worksheet by clicking on the Gray box between
Column A and Row 1. the Copy ( Cntl - C). Then Edit - PasteSpecial - Select
values. repeat for each worksheet and then save the workbook. Compare the
size of the original workbook against the new workbook. In Theory, you could
replace all you formaulas and Pivot Tables with macros and reduce the
workbook to approximately the same size as you did with using PasteSpecial
and replacing tables and formulas with values.