Can't open a file "because there are problems with the contents or the file name"

[serenalu]

Has anyone seen this error message/know how to open a Mac Word file again? I changed the file name and now it won't open with Mac Word. I can open it with a text editor to get the text out, but the document contains linked references using Mendeley which I need.

THANKS!

 

[CoastalOR]

Has anyone seen this error message/know how to open a Mac Word file again? I changed the file name and now it won't open with Mac Word. I can open it with a text editor to get the text out, but the document contains linked references using Mendeley which I need.
THANKS!

That is a compressed Microsoft Word document (.docx). Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac or newer should open it.

 

[serenalu]

I have Microsoft Word 2011 for Mac.

Any other suggestions please?

 

[CoastalOR]

I have Microsoft Word 2011 for Mac.
Any other suggestions please?

What version Mac OS are you using?
What version Microsoft Word 2011 are using?
Have you tried restarting your Mac?
Try making a copy of the file, give the copy a new name and see if you can open the new copy.

 

[serenalu]

What version Mac OS are you using?
What version Microsoft Word 2011 are using?
Have you tried restarting your Mac?
Try making a copy of the file, give the copy a new name and see if you can open the new copy.

I am using Microsoft Word for Mac 2011. Version 14.5.8 (151023). Latest installed Update: 14.5.8
I have tried emailing and opening on a PC and another Mac.
I have tried copying and giving a new name.

All unsuccessful

 

[Swiss-G]

I am using Microsoft Word for Mac 2011. Version 14.5.8 (151023). Latest installed Update: 14.5.8
I have tried emailing and opening on a PC and another Mac.
I have tried copying and giving a new name.

All unsuccessful

This is the Microsoft support page for that issue.

RESOLUTION
If you have tried to use an unusual character in the file name (as listed in the Cause section of this article), remove it from the file name and then try saving the file.

If the file you are trying to open has an invalid character, rename the file and then try to open it again.

Try renaming the file to something very simple.

Do you have a back-up of the file?

Edit:

Any luck?

 

[chscag]

Has anyone seen this error message/know how to open a Mac Word file again? I changed the file name and now it won't open with Mac Word. I can open it with a text editor to get the text out, but the document contains linked references using Mendeley which I need.

THANKS!

That error is deceiving. It's very likely that the file is corrupt. The only way you're going to get that to fully open is from a backup copy (if you have that option set in MS Word preferences under "save" - "Always make a backup copy".)

 

[Swiss-G]

That error is deceiving. It's very likely that the file is corrupt. The only way you're going to get that to fully open is from a backup copy (if you have that option set in MS Word preferences under "save" - "Always make a backup copy".)

Not quite true. If it's a docx file its possible to extract the xml files from the file by changing the extension from docx to zip.

 

[chscag]

Not quite true. If it's a docx file its possible to extract the xml files from the file by changing the extension from docx to zip.

True, but only if the file is not corrupt. The OP has already stated he can extract some of it by using TextEdit.

 

[serenalu]

True, but only if the file is not corrupt. The OP has already stated he can extract some of it by using TextEdit.

I have tried changing to a zip file and opening the original file with zip extractor. No luck either way.

How can the file become corrupted just by changing the name of it? I was working on it without issue for over a week and then changed the name (to more or less the same name with just updated date) manually in the Finder, rather than using 'save as', and it hasn't worked since.

 

[Swiss-G]

True, but only if the file is not corrupt. The OP has already stated he can extract some of it by using TextEdit.

It's possible to extract the document.xml file from a corrupted docx file by changing the file extension to zip.

Here's a link for a simple explanation.

 

[chscag]

How can the file become corrupted just by changing the name of it? I was working on it without issue for over a week and then changed the name (to more or less the same name with just updated date) manually in the Finder, rather than using 'save as', and it hasn't worked since.

Good question. All I can tell you is that XML files (docx) are more fragile and more easily corrupted than the older doc file format formerly used by MS Word.