Workbook is too large, struggling to reduce size.

[wit1111]

Hi,

A colleague recently returned a workbook to me where she had added additional sheets, the file is now enormous 25MB.

There is no code nor extensive logic, it is primarily SUMIF functions.

I have worked through the sheets and cleared the contents of all unused cells, I have checked the sheets for any VBA's, I have checked the workbook for conditional formatting.

Any idea as to how I could reduce the size, all of the above have not worked.

Many thanks

 

[wit1111]

What do you mean by it "restores the deleted cells"?
Is there something physically in these cells?
If so, how exactly are they being populated?
I would think if it is being populated with something, there must be some sort of VBA or linked data source populating it.

For example, if I select rows 145-1048576 and then 'delete', they are immediately replaced with blank rows 145-1048576. I have checked the VBA's and there is nothing I can see.

 

[Joe4]

For example, if I select rows 145-1048576 and then 'delete', they are immediately replaced with blank rows 145-1048576.

You will always see that many rows in Excel, unless you hide them. That is not a problem, unless there is data, formula, etc in there.
If they are really blank, it should not be an issue.
If you hit CTRL-END on any sheet in Excel, it will show you where it thinks the end of the data is. If that is the correct last row/column you are fine.
If not, delete the extra ones, save, and hit CTRL-END again and see where it shows you the new end is.

 

[thisoldman]

Named formulas, particularly those that refer to external workbooks, can also be a source of bloat.