When Excel could not save a file, 3E0CF950.MACTF was created, but where and by which program?

[lchoisf]

Currently running:

• Mac OS 10.14.6
• Excel with Office for Mac 2021
• Manual copies to iCloud.

Also running with Parallels Desktop:

• Windows 10
• Excel with Office 365 for Windows
• Autosave copies to OneDrive.

Hello,

I would appreciate some assistance an unusual issue using Excel for Mac 2021, and possibly with Excel for Windows 365, OneDrive, and iCloud also. I generally create, edit, and save my workbooks using Excel for Mac 2021 and Excel for Windows 365 on the same file and never had any problem.

After making edits to a workbook, I tried to save the file in Excel for Mac 2021. A message appeared saying that it could not save it due to some sharing violation. Instead, it instructed me to close the workbook without saving it and to access a file named 3E0CF950.MACTF, rename it and save it as a regular Excel file. There was no indication of the source of the message, and no directory path or a containing directory name to help locate the file.

Microsoft technical support instructed me to search at:

/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences/AutroRecovery

But there was no AutoRecovery directory. I also searched unsuccessfully on iCloud Drive and OneDrive, where I have autosave enabled when I edit my workbooks in Windows. I have also searched using Spotlight and the FIND command of the Finder with hidden files made visible. Nada.

Although Microsoft tech support thinks that the file does not exist, however, I think it's unlikely that I would get a message so detailed to include the filename if none was created.

The file that Excel was a copy of another that was originally uploaded to OneDrive. I wonder if there was a problem with the file access permissions or perhaps A similar issue happened about a year ago before I had Excel for Windows installed. I was never able to find a resolution for it. Has anyone else experienced this?

Before giving up, would anyone happen to know:

• Other locations to search on my Mac or within my two clouds?
• A safe command line for Terminal to search more thoroughly on my Mac?
• If Excel would create temp files with the ".MACTF" extension, or could this be a product of the Mac OS X, iCloud or OneDrive to which I enable autosave when I edit my Excel workbooks in Windows 10?
• Whether the file name "3E0CF950.MACTF" ïs a random name, or is it a generic file name specific to my issue, and if so, what does it mean?
• If Excel Mac 2021 normally lacks an AutoRecovery directory?

Your kind assistance would be much appreciated. Please advise.

 

[NoBoMac]

The pathname you provided does not start in your home account ($HOME/Library/...). That's where stuff is saved vs system /Library.

Spotlight search should find the file. If not, from a Terminal, try this:

cd $HOME/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel
find . -name '*3E0CF950.MACTF*'

 

[CMoran13]

Hi @lchoisf - Did you ever find a way to recover your file? This exact thing just happened to me except the file was supposed to be saved to my google drive. I tried the solution provided by @NoBoMac but was not able to retrieve the file.
If you had success recovering it, would you be so kind as to let me know? I fee like I'm in the twilight zone that it's 2022 and I just lost a file I can't recover!
Thank you!

 

[lchoisf]

The pathname you provided does not start in your home account ($HOME/Library/...). That's where stuff is saved vs system /Library.

Spotlight search should find the file. If not, from a Terminal, try this:

cd $HOME/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel
find . -name '*3E0CF950.MACTF*'

Sorry, I should have specified that it was the library in my user directory. The terminal could not find it either.

 

[lchoisf]

Hi @lchoisf - Did you ever find a way to recover your file? This exact thing just happened to me except the file was supposed to be saved to my google drive. I tried the solution provided by @NoBoMac but was not able to retrieve the file.
If you had success recovering it, would you be so kind as to let me know? I fee like I'm in the twilight zone that it's 2022 and I just lost a file I can't recover!
Thank you!

It seems to have vanished. After searching the Internet for info about files with the .MACTF extension, my suspicion is that the file was created by MAC OS (and not by Excel or MS Office). My hunch seems to be supported by a thread on the MS Office forum at: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...th-mactf/9a2f3c99-0383-43f8-b347-6d84b7d5fc64. If that's the case, searching the MAC OS temp file directories might help. Instructions on how to access those hidden directories can be found here: https://osxdaily.com/2018/08/17/where-temp-folder-mac-access/ Explore with caution and don't delete anything. Good luck.