When trying to open Microsoft Excel files from your SmartVault drive, you might encounter these errors:
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Error Message 1: "A file is corrupt and cannot be opened."
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Error Message 2: "Excel cannot open because the file format or file extension is not valid. Verify the file is not corrupted and that the extension matches the format of the file."
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Sometimes, the file might open but display a blank screen with no content.
Why These Errors Occur
The issues typically occur because:
- Microsoft Office uses a security setting called "Protected View" for files originating from internet locations, including SmartVault Drive.
- When the complete path to your file (including all folder names) exceeds 180 characters, these error messages appear.
How to Resolve the Issue
You can resolve this by adjusting Excel's Protected View settings. Before proceeding, please note:
Important
Changing these security settings means you'll need to be more careful about which files you open from the internet. While your SmartVault files are safe, this change affects how Excel handles all internet-sourced files.
- Open Excel.
- Click on File > Options.
- Select Trust Center > Trust center settings.
- Select Protected view.
- Uncheck the box labeled "Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet."
- Click OK.
- Restart Excel and try opening your SmartVault Excel files again.
Path Length Limitation
Even with the above fix, a technical limitation remains: Excel cannot open files when the total path length exceeds 200 characters. If you're still experiencing issues after changing the Protected View settings, you may need to:
- Shorten your folder names
- Shorten your file names
- Reduce the number of nested folders
The goal is to keep the total path below 200 characters.