::: Excel tips 10 :::

>> Recovering data with the SYLK format <<

If a user complains of being unable to save a workbook, the problem is usually user error. However, things do go wrong. If you've tried all the common sense remedies and the workbook does seem to be corrupted, you can try to revert to the old Symbolic Link (SYLK) format.
This approach will let your users recover most of their essential data by stripping away the more complex information that tends to be the source of corruption. Unfortunately, this trick won't help them get back any data, including charts and graphics, that wasn't supported back in the days of Excel 2.0.
. Follow these easy steps in Excel :
. Open the file that appears to be corrupted.
. Select Save As from the File menu.
. In the Save As Type list, select SYLK (Symbolic Link).
. Click Save.
. Click OK in the warning dialog box that appears when you save in SYLK format.
. Close the file.
. Click No to move on past the warning that the file you are closing is not in the normal Microsoft Excel format. (Clicking Yes will resave the file in the normal Microsoft Excel format.)
. Select Open from the File menu.
. Select All Files (*.*) in the Files Of Type drop-down list.
. Select the SYLK file you saved in step 3 and click Open.
. Select Save As from the File menu.
. Select Microsoft Excel Workbook (*.xls) in the Save As Type drop-down list.
. Click Save.
For additional information, check out Microsoft Knowledge Base article 45557:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/ARTICLES/Q45/5/57.asp