Excel cannot open the file "filename.xlsm" because the fie format or file extension is not valid....but only on some computers?

[ExcelMonkey40]

I have a file in .xlsm format that I have emailed to several recipients. A few people get the error "Excel cannot open the file "filename.xlsm" because the fie format or file extension is not valid".

Most of the recipients can open the file, and so can I, so I know it's not corrupt.

I have tried saving as .xlsb and .xlsx and they can't open either of those files either.

I can't save it as an .xls extension (which has worked int he past) because this file uses too many developer tools, macros, hyperlinks, and conditional formatting, which are incompatible with the .xls format.

I have tried placing the file on a shared drive and they are not able to open that either. So I know it's not an email issue.

Also, they have sent me a screenshot of the error message, and it is clear they are using Excel 2007.

How can I fix/alter/whatever the file so it can be opened by everyone?

 

[shajueasow]

.xlsm is not the same as .xls.
Hence only those who have Excel 2007 or above can use .xlsm files.
But there are converters with which .xlsm files can be opened in other "older" versions of Excel.

 

[Taul]

You could try this:
Get them to save the file to a directory first (ie. don’t open it directly from the email)
When they select the file to open, use the drop down arrow next to the “Open” button and choose “Open and Repair”
I'm not sure it will solve the problem but it is worth a try

 

[Domski]

A quick test would be to send them another file and see if they have the same problem. If so I'd say the problem is more likely to be at their end.

Dom

 

[Richard Schollar]

Ask them to save the file down to their computer before they try and open it - what file extension does the save down process give the file?

 

[LTL1963]

I have been having the same problem.
A file written in Excel 2003 with macros, now in Excel 2010 & Excel 2011 environment.

Excel 2011 wants to save as xlsm file or strip out the macros.
If I convert to to xlsm in Excel 2010 or 2011 and close it, it will not open back up in 2010 or 2011 and then I get an error.

"Excel cannot open the file "filename.xlsm" because the fie format or file extension is not valid."

I have used Dropbox to share between three different computers and saved it to the hard drive, to remove any Dropbox issues from the equation.