Well, this is very interesting! I opened the file in UltraEdit and did the control h. I then started reading the first row with JAWS. It was the same as before. I did a find on my name and it found my name and that row changed to the way the row was supposed to be! I then did a find on two other people and it did the same thing. That particular row became readable as it was before. I didn't save it because I have to leave and I assume that I can do this again. Do you have an idea as to how I can get the entire file to change back? Thanks, Eileen La Fond Phone (206) 386-0011 e.mail Eileen.LaFond@xxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:05 AM To: program-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Lafond, Eileen Subject: [program-l] Re: File conversion Eileen, When you opened this file in UltraEdit, it probably brought the file up in "hex" mode because of the number of unitentifiable characters. Try bringing the file up again and press CONTROL-H to force hex mode off. This won't fix the file by itself, but it might make the results more readable. If this works, then you can figure out if the data you need is still there. The example you gave is probably not really a short row. It also appears to be hexadecimal representations of the characters, and it is common for such codes to be displayed in groups of sixteen. Therefore, if you bring this file up in UltraEdit, it is possible that it will display the contents in very long rows. You can force UltraEdit to wrap long lines so the content all fits onto your screen by pressing CONTROL-W. If you need to do this, the line won't be broken where it was before, but you will have an easier time seeing it. If all of the above helps, you may still not have a file that is very useable, but we might be able to figure out if the data can be salvaged. The fact that a search for the name gets a match is somewhat encouraging. There could be a pattern to the corruption that can be largely corrected by Ultraedit. Being a long-time user of UltraEdit, I might be able to make suggestions if we know more. Do you remember if there was an event after which you noticed this problem, such as a forced shutdown or a computer hangup? Most programs don't change a file permanently without requiring you to save it, or they may make a backup copy first. You might also try doing a file search for files containing a name that you know is there, but this will take a long time. Also, check to see if you have a copy in your recycle bin. From what you have said, this is not likely, but it is worth a check. Also try a file search for files that have part of the file name as part of their name. Some programs make backups in case of a crash and replace the first character with a special character, for example. If you know when the file went bad, you could search for files created on that date or just before in case that happens to find a backup file of some kind. Microsoft Word makes backups in some cases, for example and some other programs do as well. Best regards, Steve Jacobson On Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:59:25 -0700, Lafond, Eileen wrote: >I tried it in TextPad and UltraEdit. In UltraEdit it at least recognized >actual names when I did a find, but when I tried to actually read the name in >the row, it was jibberish. >I tried putting it in Word and almost brought the computer to it's knees as it >is such a large file and it was jibberish. >No, I don't have a backup. >Eileen La Fond >Phone (206) 386-0011 >e.mail Eileen.LaFond@xxxxxxxxxxx >-----Original Message----- >From: program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >On Behalf Of Jacob Kruger >Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 12:26 AM >To: program-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Lafond, Eileen >Subject: [program-l] Re: File conversion >Will just ask if you possibly have a backup copy of this file? >Also, what happens if you try open a instance in something as simple as >notepad, or internet explorer? >Would just guess that somehow the file became corrupted, and somehow a type of >encoding rendered what you're currently seeing/reading. >Stay well >Jacob Kruger >jacob.kruger@xxxxxxxxxxxx >-----Original Message----- >From: program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:program-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >On Behalf Of Lafond, Eileen >Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:51 PM >To: program-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [program-l] File conversion >Hi, >I have a text file that I have been using for over 20 years. I went to open >it today and it opened in TextPal and became just one line instead of the >26000 or so lines. I then closed it and opened it in TextPad. It is now jibberish when it used to be words. >Does anyone have any idea as to what TextPal converted it into and how I can >convert it back? >The row is short now. It used to be 400 or so columns. >The following is the first line now in jibberish: >9006067405318885 >Thanks for any assistance as I use this file often. >Eileen La Fond >Work phone: (206) 386-0011 >email: eileen.lafond@xxxxxxxxxxx >** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] >** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >** and in the Subject line type >** unsubscribe >** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the >** immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] >** or send a message, to >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 8.5.422 / Virus Database: 270.14.22/2446 - Release Date: 10/19/09 >14:33:00 >** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] >** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >** and in the Subject line type >** unsubscribe >** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the >** immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] >** or send a message, to >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq >** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] >** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >** and in the Subject line type >** unsubscribe >** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the >** immediately-following link:- >** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] >** or send a message, to >** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** program-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq