## XL5: Cannot Reopen Password-Protected File

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

## SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for Windows, if you save a worksheet that contains an embedded chart as a password-protected Microsoft Excel 4.0 worksheet, you will receive a general protection (GP) fault if you try to open the file in Microsoft Excel version 5.0.
If you save a workbook that contains an embedded chart as a password- protected, Microsoft Excel 4.0 workbook, when you attempt to reopen the workbook, you will receive the error message

> Cannot load an empty Microsoft Excel 4.0 workbook

and you will be unable to open the file.

## CAUSE

This problem occurs because of the way that information is written to a password-protected file. In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, the embedded chart is encrypted along with the rest of the worksheet (or workbook); however, Microsoft Excel version 4.0 does not encrypt embedded charts in password- protected worksheets and workbooks. Because of this difference in the way embedded charts are saved, a worksheet or workbook that contains embedded charts that has been saved with a password from Microsoft Excel version 5.0 cannot be opened in either Microsoft Excel version 4.0 or version 5.0.

## WORKAROUND

To avoid this problem, if your worksheet or workbook contains embedded charts, do not save it as a password-protected Microsoft Excel 4.0 worksheet or Microsoft Excel 4.0 workbook.

## STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:5.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :
Technology :

Last Reviewed: November 3, 1999 © 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.