I’m using Libreoffice Calc on a Windows 10 laptop. When I create a spreadsheet on the laptop and send it to my iPad for use with Microsoft Excel, I always run into trouble when I download it to my IPad. When I try to copy the file to Excel, I get an error message “A filename cannot contain any of the following characters; /: * ? “<> \ . My file names do not contain any of these characters. I’ve tried every file extension in Libreoffice when saving the file but always get this error. Any suggestions?
When I try to copy the file to Excel
Your question is unclear. When do you get the error message - either when copying to your iPad --or-- when trying to open the file using MS Excel (I cannot imagine that you really copy the file directly from your Windows 10 laptop to Excel). Does this happen with other files (e.g. <some_name>.txt created with an abitrary text editor on Windows 10 laptop) to be opened with other applications on iPad too?
Do you use filenames with spaces like My Filenames contain spaces.ods ?
How do you transfer from Windows 10 laptop to iPad (Bluetooth, File Share, via Cloud, USB …)?
Please provide a sample file name triggering this error message.
Thanks for your reply. Here’s what I’m doing and the answers to your questions.
I create a Calc spreadsheet in LibreOffice and save it on a local laptop drive (Windows 10) as an Excel File.
I attach the file to an email to myself (thru AOL).
When I receive the file in AOL, I click and open it. It shows up on the screen as a preview file. Not suitable for editing etc.
I then try to copy it into Excel on my iPad so I can work with it.
Thats when I get the Error - “A filename cannot contain any of the following characters; /: * ? “<> \ . “
To answer your question on text files done the same way - they work perfect. I do the same thing. Create the file in Writer, email it to myself as an attachment. When I receive it on my iPad, I click on it - get a preview then copy it to Microsoft Word and it transfers perfectly.
Heres a screen shot from Explorer showing the file names. I do notice some sort of secondary file is being created with un-allowed characters but thats not the one I’m sending.
IMG_3807.jpeg
Here is a screen shot of the Calc attachment in the email - which appears to show the correct extension without un-allowed characters.
Here’s the error message when I try to open it in Excel.
8288F2FD-7D23-40C9-882B-027B82DCC0D1.jpeg
83F9E630-22E3-462E-9D88-1697ED5AACB2.jpeg
369C96B3-18DA-41AC-BD3F-882B92F3840A.jpeg
OK. Here’s an update. I’ve determined that when you insert the file in my Windows 10 Laptop email the file and extension is shown correctly. However, when I open the email on my iPad the entire file path name is shown and thus a “C:”, which is not allowed. Now if I go to my Windows 10 Desktop and send the same file - the path is not included and it will open on my iPad! I’m trying to figure out whether there is a setting in Windows 10 or LibreOffice where I change a setting where that will not happen. Also the files that I send from my Windows 10 Desktop are created in Microsoft Office rather than LibreOffice.
02-12-20: I have finally determined that for some reason, AOL Mail was adding the Path to the Filename. It has nothing to do with LibreOffice. I have found a work around to handle the problem.