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MWE
05-13-2008, 03:08 PM
I recently tried to save an Excel file with "[sometext]" as part of the filename. Excel balked. Other MS applications do not seem to care, nor does the opsys. Why does Excel not like square brackets?

mikerickson
05-13-2008, 03:14 PM
Square brackets are used to denote workbook name in a spreadsheet formula, eg.
=[Workbook2.xls]Sheet1!$C$47 + 2

They are forbidden in the actual name of the workbook to prevent confusion.

MWE
05-13-2008, 03:29 PM
Square brackets are used to denote workbook name in a spreadsheet formula, eg.
=[Workbook2.xls]Sheet1!$C$47 + 2

They are forbidden in the actual name of the workbook to prevent confusion.thanks for the prompt reply. Makes sense ... but it is interesting that Excel only complains when you do a Save As and add the square brackets then. If the file name already has square brakets, you can open the file, work with it and close it without any complaints from Excel.