Resolved: Minor Loss of Fidelity Error But Can’t Find Data!
“Recently, I upgraded from Microsoft Excel 2003 to 2007. Now, when I tried to save my Excel spreadsheet, an error ‘Minor loss of fidelity’ occurred. I am not able to understand why this error occurred when I saved the Excel file. Is there any way to eliminate this issue?”
Are you also encountering Excel minor loss of fidelity issue? Want to get rid of this issue? Do not worry, luckily you are landed on the correct page. In this blog, we are going to discuss why minor loss issue occurs and a simple method to eliminate it.
Issues which Lead to Minor Loss of Fidelity Excel Error with Solutions
Now, it is very important to know the issues that cause a minor loss of fidelity. Thus, in this section, we are going to discuss some issues that lead to Excel minor loss of fidelity. Moreover, we will also explain solutions to eliminate the issues.
Issue 1: In earlier versions, Excel does not provide support for color formatting in header and footer text. The color formatting information is displayed as plain text in Excel earlier versions.
Explanation: Starting with Excel 2007, one can apply color formatting to the header and footer text. In Excel 1997-2003, the user cannot use color formatting in headers and footers.
Solution: To remove the color formatting, you need to click on Fix in the Compatibility Check
Issue 2: The workbook contains worksheets that have even page or first page headers and footers. In the earlier Excel versions, these page headers and footers cannot be displayed.
Explanation: In Excel 2007, the user has the option to display different header and footer text on even pages or on the first-page. In Excel 97-2003, even page or first page header and footers cannot be displayed. But they available for display when a user opens the workbook in Excel 2007 and up again.
Solution: The best to deal with it is to not specify even or first-page headers or footers for that workbook while frequently saving a workbook to Excel 1997-2003 file format.
Issue 3: Some cells or styles in the workbook contain formatting that is not supported by the selected file format. These formats will be converted to the nearest format available.
Explanation: Starting with Excel 2007, different cell formatting or cell style options such as special effects and shadows are available. However, these options are not available in Excel 97-2003.
Solution: Excel makes use of the closest available format when the user continues saving the workbook. This format can be identical to another format that the user has applied to something else. Now, to avoid the duplication of formats, the user can change or remove the cell formatting and cell styles that are not supported before you save the workbook to Excel 1997-2003 file format.
Issue 4: The workbook contains more unique formats as compared to the formats supported by the selected file format. Some cell formats will not be saved.
Explanation: One can use 64,000 unique cell formats beginning with Excel 2007. But in Excel 1997-2003, one can only use up to 4,000 unique cell formats. Unique cell formats include any particular combination of formatting that is applied in a workbook.
Solution: One can remove some cell formats that are not as important to keep. This will avoid losing specific cell formats that the user want to keep available in Excel 97-2003.
Issue 5: This workbook contains more unique font formats than are supported in the selected file format. Some font formats will not be saved.
Explanations: Starting with Excel 2007, 1024 global font types are available and once can up to 512 of them per workbook. On the other hand, Excel 1997-2003 supports less unique font formats.
Solution: The user can remove some font formats that are not as important to keep. This will avoid losing particular font formats that you want to keep available in Excel 97-2003.
How to Deal with Minor Loss of Fidelity?
The user can resolve the Excel minor loss of fidelity issue by making use of Compatibility Mode and Compatibility Checker. In this section, we are going to explain the complete concept of Compatibility Mode and Compatibility Checker.
- Compatibility Mode
Compatibility Mode is a setting that prevents incompatible features in Excel 2007 from being saved to the file which is saved in the old 1997-2003 file format. Basically, one is not able to use new Office 2007 features which are incompatible with the previous versions of Microsoft Office.
Now, when the user works in compatibility mode or needs to save an Excel 2007 workbook to the file format of earlier version of Excel then Compatibility Checker can help. Basically, the Compatibility Checker identifies issues that may cause a minor loss of fidelity in the Excel earlier version.
- Compatibility Checker
When the user re-save an Excel 2007 file in the Excel 1997-2003 file format then compatibility checker is activated. It scans the workbook for features that are not supported by the previous versions of Excel. The Compatibility Checker identifies compatibility issues such as:
1. Features that are retained but that function differently in earlier versions of Office Excel
2. Functions that are disabled in Compatibility Mode and that are not functional in earlier versions of Office Excel
To run Compatibility Checker manually, you need to click on Office > Prepare > Run Compatibility Checker
- Convert Spreadsheet from the Old File Format to the new Excel 2007 format
- Open Workbook normally. Now, it will be opened in compatibility mode
- Select Office > Convert
- Your workbook will be converted to the new file format and you can use all the new 2007 features
- Click on the OK button
Summing Up
It becomes difficult for the user to manage work when any type of error is encountered. One of the most common issues faced by Excel users is ‘Minor Loss of Fidelity’. Thus, in the above section, we have introduced different methods to eliminate the Excel minor loss of fidelity issue.