Error prevented conversion

[kevs12]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

An assistant send me excel file she did on windows. Normally I can convert this. But now get "error prevented conversion"
at loss of what to do.

Isn't the main point on microsoft to be backwards compatible. Why the torture?

 

[kevs12]

I see this in log:
Open XML Converter Log
==================================

Start time: 2009-10-03 21:18:25 -0700
Converting file: /Users/ken/Desktop/charity.xlsx
Error number: 84
Conversion failed
End time: 2009-10-03 21:18:26 -0700
==================================
Start time: 2009-10-03 21:18:55 -0700
Converting file: /Users/ken/Desktop/charity.xlsx
Error number: 84
Conversion failed
End time: 2009-10-03 21:18:56 -0700
==================================
Start time: 2009-10-03 21:20:43 -0700
Converting file: /Users/ken/Desktop/charity.xlsx
Error number: 84
Conversion failed
End time: 2009-10-03 21:20:44 -0700
==================================

 

[CyberTaz]

Sorry, but that report really doesn't mean much to me so I can't tell you
exactly why the conversion failed. However, you have a reversed
interpretation of "backwards compatibility"

That is a term which means that the *newer* version can read/write in the
former formats. That's just the opposite of what you're trying to do. IOW,
what you're looking for is *forward compatibility*.

The newer version of a program will *always* have features & capabilities
which can't be reverted to a form interpreted by previous versions ‹ that's
what makes the new version *new*. The very fact that converters have been
provided is rare in the software industry to begin with ‹ especially when
file format changes occur. Usually, older versions of a program can't open
files created by the newer version at all.

One possible explanation of the conversion failure is that the PC user has
included content or employed features which can't be "downgraded" to a level
the older version can handle. However, it isn't necessarily an Excel issue
though... The file may include graphics or other content which is
incompatible with Mac in general which is why the conversion can't be made.

Have the user re-save the file in a .xls format. It's quite likely they will
get the same failure along with a clearer explanation of why the conversion
failed. If they succeed, though, you may be able to use the .xls with 2004.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[kevs12]

Thanks Bob,
the intern today saved file from her windows laptop, just save as to excel workbook and it converted fine.

But another file doing save as same way, I got same conversion error. What should I do? Tell her to save in .xls? How does a windows user do that.

This file has no graphics, just a basic file. I have to get this file

 

[CyberTaz]

I just mentioned graphics as one possibility of many. Excel 2007 includes
quite s few features which are not compatible with the Mac version &
therefore cannot be converted. But anyway...

In order to create an .xls she just needs to click the Office button, select
Save As, then choose Excel 97-2003 from the list of file types at the bottom
of the Save As dialog box.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[kevs12]

BOB, I AM IN TEARS.

The intern was able to send a blank document ok.

Even ok with .xls

But adding .xls on current important files works on her computer but I get these 2 error messages. I can't take it.

NO GRAPHICS, NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THESE FILES:
<http://tinypic.com/r/sv3pxh/4>
<http://tinypic.com/r/73hqqg/4>

 

[kevs12]

Bob, we are testing for an hour here.
sometimes she emails a .xlsx blank and it opens and other time it says cannot access. There is no rhyme or reason.
Sometimes the convert, sometimes they dont.
testing with both .xls and .xlsx
Sometimes convert or somethimes I get these messages.
And this is with blank new documents with nothing in them.
I am going nuts this is so draining.

 

[CyberTaz]

Sorry, but I don't understand what this means:

Even ok with .xls

But adding .xls on current important files works on her computer

It suggests that someone is simply changing the filename extension from
..xlsx to .xls or adding .xls to the end of [filename].xlsx to get
[filename].xlsx.xls, which just will not work -- simply changing the
extension does nothing to change the structure of the file.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

If the problem is occurring with *blank* files I would tend to suspect
something with the email service on one end or the other -- maybe both.

I'd suggest that any files to be emailed as attachments be Zipped/Stuffed in
order to protect them from such assaults. Try that & see if it helps.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[kevs12]

Thanks Bob for that suggesting. I ask here to zip the files if she can.
Yes, I was just telling here to change the name to .xls
I do that all the time with file in the finder?
What is proper procedure?

 

[CyberTaz]

Open the file in the appropriate program, use File> Save As, & select the
preferred file format from the Format: list. If you just edit the extension
in Finder you're asking for trouble... make that *begging* for trouble.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[kevs12]

Bob, we solved it.
She emailed the file to herself, and then on my desktop downloaded it from her web based email program. So something with Entourage did not like it.
I do see in file, in front of some of the emails is a tiny symbol for a graphic.
She is copying and pasting these emails from websites. Still I have never seen this before. What is this and did it cause the issue? How could there be a graphic?

 

[kevs12]

Bob, she deleted all graphics and emailed them again and was fine. issue solved. thanks!
But why is she getting graphics at all? just copying/pasting email addreses from websites. I have others do this for me before and never seen this issue? Don't get it.

 

[CyberTaz]

As stated before, when you copy from a web site you have no idea what all is
being copied. That can vary from site to site, page to page within the same
site & even from one part of the same page to another. It also depends to a
*great* extent on what browser you happen to be using. What you *see* ain't
exactly what you *get*.

You might suggest using Excel's Edit> Paste Special - Text feature or one
of the other Paste Special options that may be offered... Those options will
also vary depending on exactly what got copied by the browser.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac