found a bug in my Excel files... introduced by _ExcelBookOpen (?)

[water]

As AutoIt does nothing to the xlsx file I'm sure this can only be an Excel bug.

Can you try on another machine in your company? Maybe reinstalling Excel could solve the problem?

[Imbuter2000]

The problem is triggered only when I open the file from AutoIT. If I open it manually it's not triggered.
Therefore the problem could still be anywhere in chain AutoIT - COM - Excel...

In my company it happened on 3 PCs out of 4 where I tried.  On the 4rd PC it happened one time in the past, not now in these tests.

[Imbuter2000]

other info:  the use of XLS format instead than XLSX avoids the problem

[water]

If you could open the xlsx file by COM using Visual Basic and the error persists then I dare to say it is a MS bug.

[Imbuter2000]

Good idea water.
 

I tried again:
 

VBA (executed inside Excel):

Sub test()

    Workbooks.Open Filename:="c:tempbug-free original copy.xlsx"

End Sub

 

AutoIT:

$oE = ObjCreate("Excel.Application")

$oE.Visible = 1

$oE.WorkBooks.Open("c:tempbug-free original copy.xlsx")

 

VBA doesn't cause the problem.
AutoIT causes the problem  

[water]

Looks like it is time to open a ticket in the BugTracker.

[lorenkinzel]

Despite trying a plethora of different methods, I still can not duplicate your problem / error on excel 07 or 2010.

Did make note, though; with normally opening linked workbooks a message appears asking if I want to update links.

If I open linked workbook with   _ExcelBookOpen    it simply updates without asking. This can change or remove named ranges or filters.

Not a duplication of error though.

Studying Excel.au3 provides no clues (to me) to this behaviour.

Not done yet. Too many unanswered questions.

[Imbuter2000]

It happened on a clean new file too, without any links for sure...
I actually "solved" using XLS instead than XLSX.

[water]

Often a fresh install of Office solves such strange "problems"

[Imbuter2000]

Often a fresh install of Office solves such strange "problems"

The strange thing is that it also happens on 3 PC out of 4 tried in my bank office (where I don't have admin rights and license for reinstalling Office)...

I don't know... may be "Italian" is the only difference between my PCs and yours... 

[water]

I have no more ideas :-(

Best would be to open a Ticket on the AutoIt BugTracker.

[lorenkinzel]

I switched my computer to Italian & found no difference.

[Imbuter2000]

I switched my computer to Italian & found no difference.

Can you define "my computer"?  Windows? Office?

[lorenkinzel]

excel options>language settings

&

Windows >regional & language settings

So- both.

It seemed (things are not always as they seem) to be the last variable I had not tried.

My inability to duplicate the problem does not mean it does not occur.

I am unable to duplitate this problem. Perhaps a more qualified person can.

[Imbuter2000]

excel options>language settings

&

Windows >regional & language settings

So- both.

It seemed (things are not always as they seem) to be the last variable I had not tried.

My inability to duplicate the problem does not mean it does not occur.

I am unable to duplitate this problem. Perhaps a more qualified person can.

What language is your Windows OS? English? Mine is Italian... and this could be the difference...

Regional & language settings don't change the OS language...

[lorenkinzel]

My OS is english

Though I am quite adventurous;

OS language is one last variable that I am unwilling to deal with.

No $ for the install disc, otherwise I'd give it a go.........

Sorry to bail on you, but I'm bailing on you.