Problem with Excel 2003 files and blue worksheet icons in VB Edito

[Simka]

I have discovered a strange problem that occurs within Excel 2003 that I
cannot find an answer to, not even within the Microsoft Knowledgebase. Maybe
someone has experienced the same problem.

Within Excel 2003 I have constructed a new Excel workbook containing 3
worksheets and have called the file ‘Report Mar08.xls’ which the file saved
across a network without problem. (I have also created similar workbooks with
similar names). I then remembered something I needed to update in the file so
I re-opened it, made the change and then tried to re-save it with the update.
This time a dialogue box ‘Document not saved’ appeared and the file DID NOT
save, nor will it allow me to save the file using a different name.

If I open the visual basic editor while the file is open it is possible to
see all the 3 sheets in the Project Explorer window within the file but there
are also many other sheets with blue icons. These sheets do not exist in the
Excel workbook and there are no properties associated with these sheets.

I then have to close the file without saving the file (the file does not
recognise that an update has been added – ie. the dialogue box does not
appear asking me to save the file when closing). If I then close down the
Excel application, I get another dialogue box stating: ‘Microsoft Office
Excel has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the
inconvenience.’ with a check box to Restart Excel and also inviting me to
Send/Don’t Send an Error Report.

I have discovered a resolution by selecting ‘File, Open’ (or within Windows
Explorer) and changing the name of the file by a single character (eg. From
‘Report Mar08.xls’ to ‘Report Mar0.xls’ – without the 8 on the end), this
time the file opens normally, changes can be made and the file saved and
closed without problem. If I change the file name back to ‘Report Mar08.xls’,
the file once again becomes unstable and will not save with any changes, (ie.
I cannot use the name of the file as ‘Report Mar08.xls’ if I wish to use the
file as normal).

I have also experienced the same problem with 2 or 3 other files but with
completely different names.

I also very occasionally I also get a dialogue box appear saying: ‘An
unexpected error has occurred. AutoRecover has been disabled for this session
of Excel.’

I have also discovered that it not within my installation of Excel as it
occurs on other peoples PC’s when they open the file.

 

[Gary''s Student]

Try the following experiment on your desktop rather than the server:

1. save the file
2. re-open & modify the file
3. re-save the file

If the experiment works, then the problem is not in your version of Excel or
a file problem. The problem is probably a server performance/permission
problem.

 

[Bahareh]

Hello

I have also faced the "document not saved" problem. Save function works on
my desktop but not on server and other users have no problem with it.
I copied the data into a new file and at last I had to reinstall Windows and
Excel.

Regards
BHR

 

[Simka]

Hi and thanks for the suggestion but we’ve tried all of these. The file will
not save anywhere, not even on the desktop or anywhere on the local drive.
The system guys changed my permissions to administrator rights, completely
wiped off MS Office 2003 and re-installed but occasionally I am still having
problems. It is strange that other files that I have created which are
located in the same folder work as normal, but this file as well as 1 or 2
other files in different folders are unstable. Also it happens on other
peoples PC’s so I think it may have something to do with the file itself not
the version of Excel.

 

[Simka]

It’s good to hear from someone with a similar problem. The save function
doesn’t work, not even to the desktop or the local drive. I would be
interested, if you get this ‘Document Not Saved’ message again, open up the
VB Editor and see if you have a load of blue worksheet icons in the Project
Explorer window. If you do, close the file then rename by removing 1
character of the filename and then try opening the file, modifying it and
then resaving it, hopefully this time it will save.