XL5: Number Format Error Opening File or Increasing Decimal

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When you open a file in Microsoft Excel, you receive the following error message:

   File error. Some number formats may have been lost.

   Number format is too long.

CAUSE

You receive these error messages if the Symbol box in the International - Currency Format dialog box is empty. You can locate the International settings by double-clicking the International icon in the Windows Control Panel.

If this box does not contain a value, you receive an error message when you close the dialog box. However, if you type a space in the Symbol box, and then choose OK, the value is accepted, however the space character is then removed, leaving the Symbol box empty.

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving these error messages, set a value in the Symbol box in the International - Currency Format dialog box. You can do this by using the following steps:

   1. Run the Control Panel, and double-click the International icon.

   2. Under Currency Format, choose the Change button.

   3. In the Symbol box, enter the desired character, (other than a space)
      and choose OK.

   4. In the International dialog box, choose OK.

   5. Close the Control Panel.

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 version 5.0c for Windows.

Note that in Microsoft Excel version 5.0c, if there is no Currency Format Symbol set in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel, Microsoft Excel assumes that the symbol is the dollar sign ($) character.