XL: Problems Linking/Saving Files with Brackets in Filename

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q123577

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, if you open a file with a name that contains brackets ("[" and "]"), the brackets are converted to parentheses for as long as the file is open in Microsoft Excel. This behavior may produce unexpected results when you create a link to the file or when you attempt to save it.

CAUSE

Microsoft Excel uses brackets to signify a workbook file name in a reference. For example, in the following formula 

   =[TestWorkbook]Sheet1!$A$1
the brackets surround the name of the workbook (TestWorkbook). The remainder of the formula to the left of the exclamation point is the name of the worksheet in the workbook.

If you open a file with a name that contains brackets, the brackets are converted to parentheses. For example, if you open a file with this name 

   This[IsA]Test
the filename appears as 

   This(IsA)Test
in the title bar. Also, if you create a formula in another workbook that refers to the workbook, the formula resembles the following: 

   ='[This(IsA)Test]Sheet1'!$A$1
This reference will work as long as the "This[IsA]Test" workbook is open. However, if the "This[IsA]Test" workbook is closed, the links to that workbook will not function correctly, because Microsoft Excel will not recognize the file name.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this type of error, DO NOT use brackets in your workbook file names and do not rename Microsoft Excel files in the Finder or File Manager so that they contain brackets.

MORE INFORMATION

Note that when you save a new file in Microsoft Excel 5.0, you cannot include brackets in the file name. The only way that brackets appear in the file name is if the file was originally created either in an earlier version of Microsoft Excel or in another program or if the file was renamed in the Finder or File Manager.

Additional query words: 5.00
Keywords : kbenv
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
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