XL5: Cannot Reopen Password-Protected File

- 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

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.