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Excel Question? 1

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fabraldr

Technical User
Sep 10, 2003
16
NZ
Hi Guys,

Within Excel, open files cannot be saved with square brackets [ ] in the filename. However, there is no warning against renaming files in the Explorer, by adding some square brackets. Excel has no problem opening these files and saving them after user has made changes. A problem occurs after a sheet of an open Excel file, with square brackets in its filename, is copied or moved to another open Excel file: The name of the sheet that has been moved/copied can't be properly renamed, by double-clicking on the sheet-tab. Something like "xls].Sheet1" occurs, which can be double-clicked but not changed since Excel gives a warning of wrong character use.

Any explanations for this???
 
What version of XL and what OS ??
I am on 2002 / XP and can't replicate the issue - I can rename the sheets just fine. As to why you would need a [] in the file name......that's another question ;-)

Rgds, Geoff
[blue]Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes![/blue]
Want the [red]best[/red] answers to your questions ? faq222-2244
 
I can't replicate it in '97 either.

But it does seem a bit strange that Excel won't let you create such a file name, but is able to work with one.

Enjoy,
Tony

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I think that excel stops you doing it "just in case" - I would imagine that the internal code may well get confused when it trys to reference a workbook with [ ] in the title - it's probably for VBA also as the [ ] would be hard to reference via code

Rgds, Geoff
[blue]Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes![/blue]
Want the [red]best[/red] answers to your questions ? faq222-2244
 
Apologies for the delayed response. Its running Office XP/2002.
 
asme as me and I can't replicate the issue - do you have all service packs installed ??

Rgds, Geoff
[blue]Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes![/blue]
Want the [red]best[/red] answers to your questions ? faq222-2244
 
excellent news

Rgds, Geoff
[blue]Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes![/blue]
Want the [red]best[/red] answers to your questions ? faq222-2244
 
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