what cause this error to xlsread randomnly?

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Dimitrios
Dimitrios on 10 Oct 2014
Commented: Srishti on 3 Jul 2023
I have a script where i load a excel file.Sometimes the file is not loaded and the following error is displayed:
Error using xlsread (line 247)
Invoke Error, Dispatch Exception:
Source: Microsoft Excel
Description: Open method of Workbooks class failed
Help File: xlmain11.chm
Help Context ID: 0
What i find strange is that if i run again the script the file is loaded normally without changing anything to the code.What could be the issue for that? Thanks in Advance
  8 Comments
Image Analyst
Image Analyst on 5 Jun 2021
Last I checked, the length of a filename in Excel (folder + base file name) was limited to 218 characters.
Ranjith Madhana Gopal
Ranjith Madhana Gopal on 10 Jun 2021
Edited: Ranjith Madhana Gopal on 10 Jun 2021
So yes, the character limit for the name of an excel file is 218, but it also includes the path name. So try the following below and your Excel/ windows explorer will not let you add more characters to the name the file. For example - only half of file name is present and it won't let me spell even length, let alone finish the rest of the name of the file.
D:\Research\2021\May\May 25th & May 26th\May 26th - Subject 1 - Left\Data\Left Hand\Index and Thumb\Range of Motion\Flexion-Extension\Up\Length Calculation trials\Trial 8 - Index and Thumb\Real_hand_left_Index_Thumb_Leng
Its got 220 characters. (Also, I see you've mentioned folder name) I've provided the example so that somebody with a similar problem may have reference.

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Answers (5)

Image Analyst
Image Analyst on 7 May 2015
Is Excel already open to that workbook when you try to do that? Before you call xlsread, type (if you're in Windows) control-shift-Esc and see if you see Excel in the Process list.

SAGAR SINGH RATHOR
SAGAR SINGH RATHOR on 31 May 2018
Edited: SAGAR SINGH RATHOR on 13 Jun 2018
I just restarted my PC and the problem was solved or you can just restart the Matlab.
  2 Comments
Hiral Panchal
Hiral Panchal on 27 Jun 2021
Restarting MATLAB worked. Thanks :)
Srishti
Srishti on 3 Jul 2023
Restarting matlab worked for me in 2023 matlab

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Jeff
Jeff on 29 Mar 2016
Edited: Jeff on 29 Mar 2016
I am currently getting the same error when just simply trying use xlsread on a .xlsx file and it doesn't appear to be related to any other instance of excel running.
I am currently on matlab version 2015a but when testing on 2014a the same file works without the above error. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Error using xlsread (line 247) Invoke Error, Dispatch Exception: Source: Microsoft Excel Description: Goto method of Application class failed Help File: xlmain11.chm Help Context ID: 0

Chien-Han Su
Chien-Han Su on 24 Mar 2021
Edited: Chien-Han Su on 24 Mar 2021
I encountered and solved this problem recently with Matlab2018a running on Win10.
At first I tried again after restarting my computer but it didn't work.
I then tried to directly open my original .xls file and happened to find that it was opened in Protected View Mode in Office 2010 Excel on my computer, also my Office 2010 authentication was overdue.
My guess was that xlsread() might failed if the file is under Protected View Mode though I'm not sure what the relation between matlab readxls() and the MS Office. Anyway, after re-authenticate my Office 2010, and make sure I can directly open my .xls file with Excel without entering Protected View Mode, Now my Matlab can excute xlsread() again.

Ranjith Madhana Gopal
Ranjith Madhana Gopal on 5 Jun 2021
I tried different methods, but the problem was rather trivial. - the name of the excel file, that I was trying to read was too long. So once I changed the name of the excel file the code was working just fine.

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