If the file created by ExcelFIX does not open try the following:
Saving only main MS Excel elements
Select, Diagnose and Recover the corrupt file from the Advanced Recovery main section. Once the file has been recovered go to the menu [File / Save] and click on [Options] at the bottom right. Unmark all of the saving options except for "Save Formulas".
Click on [Save] and try to open the file. If it cannot be opened try with the next topics.
Hard cleaning the file
Go to the Advanced editor in the menu [Options / Edit document] and click on [Hard Clean File].
Click on [Save] and try to open the file. If it cannot be opened try with the following topics.
The hard clean operation can make some elements of the file such as formula links defective. The next topics can help you improve the results.
Looking for the damaged sheets
In order to find where the error is located within the file, either in a sheet or in the structure, do the following:
A. Go to the menu [File / Save] and click on [Options] and then on [Sheets] . In the Sheets step you can include and exclude sheets from the saving process.
B. First unmark all of the sheets and click on [Save]. If asked to replace the file click on [Rename File]. Open the file without any sheets. If the file opens it means that the error is located in one or more of the sheets. You should continue then with recovery step C below.
C. Now you know the error is in one or more of the worksheets. You should perform multiple, partial saves of the file to determine which sheet(s) contain the error that prohibits the file from opening. Each time you should include only a few sheets: if the file opens it means those sheets are Ok.
Once you have found the sheets where the persistent corruption is try with the following topics.
Hard cleaning the affected sheets
Once you have determined the sheets where the error is located, go to the Advanced editor through the menu [Options / Edit document] and apply the [Hard Clean Sheet] only to the page(s) containing the error. Next, close the Editor and save the file to see if these problematic sheets can now be opened.
If the open failure persists you must save the entire file excluding the error sheet(s). However you can improve the results following the next topics.
Looking for the damaged cells
Once you have found which sheets contain problem data it is also possible to apply the same method to find the problem cell(s). This can be done using the Advanced editor by using the [Crop Cells] and [Delete Cells] options.
The [Delete Cells] option will allow you to eliminate individual or groups of cells and the [Crop Cells] option will allow you to select the cells you wish to keep in the file and eliminate the rest. By removing different groups of cells from the affected sheet and saving the document repeatedly, you will be able to determine which cells prevent the file from opening. Be aware that you will need to start a new Advanced Recovery of your file for each time that you delete cells in order to recover the previously deleted cells.
When the cell(s) containing the error have been identified, apply the Hard Clean Cells option to them. If the file cannot be opened after the hard clean the problem cells should be omitted from the file and re-entered by hand.
Still having problems
If you cannot obtain a useful file by applying these step do not hesitate in contacting the technical support department.