Today’s business world mostly relies on MS-Excel sheets for their regular data analysis and reports. And, one single corrupted file can result in a huge loss of your productivity and significant data permanently. After all, nobody wants to see those error messages after completing multiple complex calculations on pivot tables.
One of those error messages is “object reference not set to an instance of an object.” But, how do you solve this error, and is there any way to prevent your files from getting corrupted? Let’s find out together:
When or Why do Excel Files get corrupted?
The chances of an Excel file getting corrupted are usually higher when it isn’t saved properly. For instance, you were unable to shut down your PC properly due to a power supply failure. In such cases, your spreadsheet can’t save the data or recent calculations properly.
Another reason behind Excel files getting corrupted occasionally is due to the presence of malware or a virus on your PC. Once a spreadsheet file is damaged, it can’t be read and shows an error message while trying to open it.
Object reference not set to an instance of an Object Error
When a user generally tries to delete a table from any data model, they might receive this error message showing “object reference not set to an instance of an object error.” However, the solution to this error is quite simple. Make sure to read all the following steps carefully and you’ll be good to go:
- Firstly, open the spreadsheet and go into the ‘Data View’ section.
- Now, make sure to right-click on the table from the tab at the bottom of the Data View section.
- Click on the “Delete” option.
- Lastly, choose the “Yes” option if you’re ready to delete the table and at least get a workaround again.
What if I can’t open a corrupted Excel file?
In case you’re not even able to open your file, then try this method. First, open MS-Excel and select “Open” to locate your file. Once you’ve located the file, don’t press “Open” but click on its drop-down menu and select the “Open & Repair” option.
Now, a dialogue window will appear on your screen asking if you want to choose the “Repair” or “Extract Data” or “Cancel” option. Simply choose the “Repair” option and you’ll be able to open your file in a few seconds.
If the “Repair” option doesn’t work out, you can also try the “Extract” option and save the data into a new file.
Summarizing Our Thoughts
Lastly, we hope that after following the above-mentioned methods, you’re no longer seeing those error messages. In case you don’t want to see “object reference not set to an instance of an object” or any other error, then make sure your PC is shut down properly.
Apart from this, it’s important to have decent anti-virus software active to prevent your spreadsheets from malware. If you’re still unable to repair your Excel files, you can also try using different Data Recovery Programs online.
