XL97: Entire Text File Appears In a Merged Cell

Last reviewed: January 9, 1998
Article ID: Q169812

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you create a text file that contains at least two Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags and you open that file in Microsoft Excel, the entire text file may appear in a single merged cell (A1). Also, depending on the quantity and type of HTML tags in the text file, Microsoft Excel may unexpectedly quit. When this behavior occurs, the following error messages appear.

   Microsoft Windows 95
   --------------------

      This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut
      down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

      Excel caused an invalid page fault in module Excel.exe at
      0137:30515ded

   Microsoft Windows NT
   --------------------

      Dr. Watson for Windows NT

      An application error has occurred and an application error log is
      being generated.

      Excel.exe

      Exception: access violation (0xc0000005), Address 0x30515ded

NOTE: This problem may also occur if the only tag that is in the text document is the <HTML> </HTML> tag.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the text file contains a large number of HTML tags but no table tags. For example, the file does not contain the following table tags:

   <Table>
   <TR>
   <TD>

These tags force Microsoft Excel to parse the data into separate rows and/or columns.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, do the following:

Reduce the number of HTML tags in the text document.
```
    -or-
```
Use table tags so the data is not imported into a single cell.
```
    -or-
```
Reduce the amount of text in the text document.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: XL97
Keywords : xlweb kberrmsg kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: January 9, 1998
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