This is a cross post (office and Excel)
So ... here's a strange (and VERY devastating) event.
OS: Win XP-SP3 Build 2600
Office 2007 SP1
System: Dell XPS-630i, 4GM RAM, 3.2GHZ Intel Core 2 Dual Core
I have a complex spreadsheet with about 12 sheets, and a ton of complicated
equations. I have used this spreadsheet for 3 years, no problems. Recently
upgraded (Automatic Updates) to XP-SP3 and Office 2007 SP-1
I have performed the following sequence of events numerous times in the past
with no problems:
1. I open the spreadsheet and update some data.
2. I highlight a small block of cells (say, 7 columns, 15 rows) and hit
CTRL-C to copy to the clipboard.
3. Leaving Excel running, I open a blank Word document and CTRL-V (Paste)
the data.
4. I return to the spreadsheet and save it to disk,
5. I return to the Word document, save it, close Word.
6. I open the Excel spreadsheet and ... 90% of the cells in ALL the sheets
are wiped out, displaying 1-JUN-00! This includes cells which previously
held only data, no equations.
Note that the data in Excel was OK when I closed Excel. When it is
reopened, the data is destroyed.
I can create this scenario repeatedly. I can even select a different block
of data to copy and paste - it doesn't matter, the spreadsheet gets destroyed.
I can also prevent it from happening, by closing the spreadsheet BEFORE
pasting the block into Word. This is my workaround, but I am intrigued by
this problem â?¦ and concerned.
To perhaps narrow down the cause here are the results of some tests I
conducted:
Test 1: another computer, same software â?? no problem
Test 2: Copy/paste to Notepad, Textpad , Outlook, new Excel workbook,
Powerpoint, Publisher - no problem. Copy/paste to Word â?? PROBLEM
Test 3: 15 iterations, fresh copy each time. Using same workbook, copy
different sections from different sheets in the workbook to Word â?? PROBLEM
in every instance. Doesnâ??t matter what you copy â?? text, data, calculations,
etc.
Test 4. Copy something, open Word but DO NOT PASTE. Close Excel (No save).
Close Word. Open Workbook - PROBLEM
Test 5: open workbook, copy something, open Word, close workbook (save),
open workbook - PROBLEM
Test 6: open workbook, copy something, open Word, close workbook (no save),
open workbook - NO PROBLEM
Test 7: open Word, open workbook, copy something, paste to word, close Excel
(save), close Word, open workbook - NO PROBLEM
Test 8: open Word, open workbook, copy something, paste to word, close Excel
(no save), close Word, open workbook - NO PROBLEM
So, seems to be isolated to Word/Excel - no other Office apps or 'foreign'
programs. Apparently happens only on this machine - but I REALLY hesitate to
draw that conclusion! Not enough data.
Also, seems that reversing the open order (Tests 7 and 8 - Word first, then
Excel) eliminates the problem!
Office Diagnostics come back negative.
Ron