Error - Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file <filename>.

[butter]

I am receiving the following message randomly. I am trying to save to a
network drive. It is happening on several different spreadsheets.

"Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file <filename>. There are
several possible reasons:

- The file name or path does not exist.
- The file is being used by another program.
- The workbook you are trying to save has the same name as a currently open
workbook."

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Kaimi_CA]

I had exactly the same problem and believe that I have a work-around after
searching online and speaking with a Microsoft Support 'professional.' My
initial replies from the email tech guys were not helpful, but I eventually
got a phone number and was able to speak with a guy who clealy understand the
issue and had dealt with it "100's of times."

The underlying problem, as he described it, has to do with the Apple OS Save
command talking to the network drive Server Software. In my case, the LaCie
2big drive has network protocol software specific for Mac (AFP) that makes
the share drive look like just another drive, but there are many variations
of server software. One can reach the server software by logging in, but
making changes there to priorities, communication rates, handshake details
and other synchronization variables is way over my head. From this
perspective,for Microsoft Tech support staff, the issue is not with the Excel
program.

On my own I discovered a work-around for MS Office 08 for Mac Excel as
follows. It may work for others.

1) Open Excel and migrate to File-Preferences-Authoring-General and find
the line "Preferred file location:". Click on Select and browse to the
folder on the network drive containing the problem files. While hovering
over the text box or Select button, note the background info in the
Description box at the bottom of the screen. In my case, I choose a folder
several steps up in the hierarchy, above the file of interest, figuring that
once Excel got to the network drive, it would be able to find the files
anywhere within the folder location I entered.

2) Now, the next time the problem occurs, and it most likely will (!!),
simply put your Mac to sleep briefly and re-awaken it. On a MacBook just
close the cover and re-open it. Voila, the message is gone and files can be
saved without further delay.

I have not bothered to see if steps 1 and 2 are both required, but I can say
that step one alone was not a fix. Best of luck in your case.

[s p]

Just had the same problem in excel on Windows Server 2003 and resolved it ...

The macro security on the spreadsheet. Change it to a low setting. Do the same for all client copies of Excel (if office is resident on client computers).

As soon as I did it - bam! ... all had access.

butter wrote:

Error - Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file <filename>.
17-Aug-09

Thank you.

Previous Posts In This Thread:

On Monday, August 17, 2009 9:15 AM
butter wrote:

Error - Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file <filename>.

Thank you.

On Tuesday, September 01, 2009 2:44 PM
Kaimi_CA wrote:

"butter" wrote:

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