XL7: Last Modified File Date Changes Unexpectedly (141176)

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, when you open a file that was created in an earlier version of Microsoft Excel, the "last modified" date may be changed unexpectedly.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you open a file that was created in one of the following versions of Microsoft Excel:

5.0 for Windows NT
4.0 for Windows
4.0 for the Macintosh
3.0 for Windows
3.0 for the Macintosh

The date may be changed even if you close the file without saving changes.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the following steps to make a copy of the file before you open it:

Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
Click the file name. (If you want to click multiple files to copy, hold the CTRL key down while you click each file name.)
With the file to copy selected, click the right mouse button, and then click Copy on the shortcut menu.
Double-click the folder in which you want to place the files.
Click the right mouse button, and then click Paste on the shortcut menu.

Now you have a copy of the file with its original "last modified" date.

In order to preserve a copy of the file with the original date, you can either work with the copy of the file, or you can use the file from its original location and replace it with the copy when you're finished.

NOTE: If you choose to place the copy back in the original folder after working with the original file, click Yes when prompted to overwrite the current file. Note that if you do this, you will lose any changes that you made to the file.