Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Accessing a Problem Shared Workbook.
Kim has an Excel workbook that she later set up as a shared workbook. The workbook worked just fine for a while, then all of a sudden users get the error message "Excel.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows" when they try to open the workbook. Kim is wondering how she can get the workbook open.
Unfortunately, Kim, it sounds like the workbook has become corrupted in some way. This doesn't always happen with shared workbooks, but there have been reports that corruption is more likely in such workbooks than in non-shared workbooks.
When a workbook is corrupted, your options are very limited. In a perfect world, you could simply ignore the corrupted one and use your backup copy of the workbook, instead. If you don't have a backup (meaning, you don't live in a perfect world), then you may need to resort to more drastic measures. The following link, at the Microsoft Knowledge Base, can help you:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/820741
The article indicates that it is for Excel 2002 and Excel 2003, but in our experience it applies to later versions of Excel, as well.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (727) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Accessing a Problem Shared Workbook.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
If you work with multiple workbooks at the same time, you might wonder how to tie them together so they open and close ...
Discover MoreAs you work with a workbook over time, it is possible for the workbook to grow to a huge size. If you want to shrink the ...
Discover MoreWhen you create a workbook that is read-only, users can still make changes to the workbook. When they exit, they are ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-01-23 18:21:41
Me Testing comments
That's cool. Thanks.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments