I have the following C# function in my project, which is supposed to open and return an existing Excel workbook object:
Application _excelApp;
// ...
private Workbook OpenXL(string path, string filename)
{
try
{
if (_excelApp == null)
{
_excelApp = new Application();
}
Workbook workBook = _excelApp.Workbooks.Open(path + filename, // Name
0, // Do not update links
true); // Open read-only
return workBook;
}
catch (Exception e)
{
_excelApp = null;
throw new ArgumentException("Error opening " + path + filename, e);
}
}
But when I run it with "C:\" and "scratch.xlsx", the Open() call throws the following error:
Microsoft Excel cannot access the file 'C:\scratch.xlsx'. There are several possible reasons:
• The file name or path does not exist.
• The file is being used by another program.
• The workbook you are trying to save has the same name as a currently open workbook.
The file and path does exist: I have copied the path from the error message and pasted it into a command window and the file loads up in Excel. The file is not locked: Excel can open it fine but my program cannot, even straight after a reboot. I am not trying to save it, I am trying to open it so the last option is irrelevant.
I am at a loss to understand why this simple piece of code is not working. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
[edit] I have now tried opening that file from my personal network drive (M:) and from a USB stick. All to no avail.
The application is actually a Windows service, running under the local system account and generating reports. It currently write CSV reports with no access problems whatsoever. I am now trying to get it to open an excel file as a template report and fill in various fields. It is when opening the Excel file that it fails. I am thinking that the administrator account option everyone is suggesting is a red herring since it can write CSV files wityh no problem. [/edit]
--- Alistair.
path + filename; usePath.Combine(path, filename)instead!! – Hindward