Microsoft KB Archive/214152

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel 2000

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SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to open a text or comma separated variable (CSV) file into Microsoft Excel, you may receive the following error message:

SYLK: File format is not valid.

CAUSE
This error message occurs when the first item in the file begins with "ID".

A SYLK file is a text file that begins with "ID" or "ID_xxxx", where xxxx is a text string. The first record of a SYLK file is the ID_Number record. When Excel identifies this text at the beginning of a text file, it interprets the file as being a SYLK file. Excel attempts to convert the file from the SYLK format, but is unable to because there are no valid SYLK codes following the "ID" characters. Because it cannot convert the file, Excel generates the error.

WORKAROUND
To prevent this error message, make sure the first item in the file doesn't begin with "ID". To do this, edit the file in a word processor and insert a blank line above the line that begins with "ID" or remove the "ID" characters.

MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

\[\[..\/\|Q\]\] XL2000: "SYLK: File Format is not Valid" Error Opening File

\[\[..\/\|Q\]\] XL2000: Error Message "| file format is not valid."

\[\[..\/\|Q\]\] XL2000: Error Message "File format is not valid."

\[\[..\/\|Q\]\] XL: "Invalid SYLK File" Error When Opening Text or CSV Files Additional query words: XL2000

Keywords : kberrmsg kbconversion

Version : WINDOWS:2000

Platform : WINDOWS

Issue type : kbprb
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