Mark6Nov2016
Level 1 (8 points)
iWork

Q: Numbers document won't open after upgrade to Sierra

I last updated a Numbers document (stored on iCloud) this morning prior to upgrading from OS X El Capitan to Sierra (10.12). 

I have upgraded my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) to OS X Sierra, and upgraded Numbers to version 4.0 (3507).  I don't have the previous version numbers for OS X or Numbers.

 

When I now try to open the file, I get the following error message:

< "[filename]" can’t be opened for some reason. To open this file, restore it to a previous version.>

When I try to open a "previous version", it does not recognise any I have tried.

 

It is a spreadsheet with about 20 tabs each with charts and tables.

 

I need access to this file.  How can I access it?

Thanks

Mark

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Oct 7, 2016 1:05 PM

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Mark6Nov2016

Q: Numbers document won't open after upgrade to Sierra

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  • by alex_h1,

    alex_h1 alex_h1 Oct 8, 2016 6:28 PM in response to Mark6Nov2016
    Community Specialists
    Oct 8, 2016 6:28 PM in response to Mark6Nov2016
    Hi there Mark6Nov2016,

    I understand that you are experiencing some issues with a Numbers file that you are unable to access since your upgrade to Sierra. First, I would suggest that you copy this file from iCloud Drive to your computer so that you have a backup copy of the file. You can accomplish this with the information in this article:

    How do I access all my files in iCloud Drive?

    There are multiple ways you can access your files in iCloud Drive:

    • Using any supported web browser, you can use iCloud Drive at iCloud.com.
    • On your Mac, you can go to iCloud Drive in Finder.
    • On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 9 or later, you can access your files from the iCloud Drive app.
    • On your PC with Windows 7 or later and iCloud for Windows, you can go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer.

    When you add your Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, all of your files move to iCloud. On your Mac, you can find the files on your Desktop and in your Documents folder in Finder under iCloud. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. A folder is created with the same name as your second Mac.

     

    iCloud Drive FAQ - Apple Support

    Next, let's try to open and upgrade the offline copy of the Numbers file, the one you have just created on your computer. Let us know how this goes, and thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities.

    Cheers.

  • by Mark6Nov2016,

    Mark6Nov2016 Mark6Nov2016 Oct 9, 2016 6:24 AM in response to alex_h1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iWork
    Oct 9, 2016 6:24 AM in response to alex_h1

    Thanks for the reply.  Regrettably this has not fixed the problem.  I actually had already tried this approach.  I get the same error message but without the suggestion to try a previous version (as I imagine they only exist on the iCloud drive). 

     

    I also keep  a local version (but not backed up for a couple of weeks) which also fails to open.  Similarly a version from January.  The spreadsheet gets updated every weekday. 

     

    Other Numbers files open ok; either from the iCloud drive or my local drive. 

     

    Therefore  I do not think that it is not the specific file that is corrupted.  I can only assume that it is a particular way the spreadsheet is configured that is a problem. 

     

    Thanks,

     

    Mark

  • by Mark6Nov2016,

    Mark6Nov2016 Mark6Nov2016 Oct 9, 2016 8:22 AM in response to Mark6Nov2016
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iWork
    Oct 9, 2016 8:22 AM in response to Mark6Nov2016

    Update:

    I have managed to work around the problem.  I borrowed a friend's laptop.  He had upgraded to OS X Sierra, but NOT to Numbers 4.0.  He is still using Numbers 3.6.2 (2577). 

     

    I managed to open the problem file from a copy on a usb drive.  I then exported it as .CSV, .XLSX, and Numbers '09, as well as saving a copy.

     

    Neither the original file nor the copy still does not open, but the .XLSX and Numbers '09 versions both do.  The .csv version saved as 49 separate files. 

     

    I am now using an 'upgraded' version of the Numbers '09 version.  This 'laundered' copy now seems to work correctly with Numbers 4.0 from usb drive and iCloud, although some formatting seems to have dropped off. 

     

    The original problem remains, but at least I have my data back.

     

    I would still welcome a full fix.

     

    Thanks,

    Mark