This article provides guidance on resolving the "Exception from HRESULT: 0x800A03EC" error that may occur when users attempt to connect to Ledger & Reporting files in Smart Workpapers.

- Error message "Exception from HRESULT: 0x800A03EC" appears when trying to connect to a Ledger & Reporting file

- Unable to refresh trial balance in the affected workbook

- General instability or unexpected behavior in the affected workbook

This error is typically associated with a corrupt workbook index. The corruption can occur due to various reasons, including:

- Unexpected software termination

- File system issues

- Conflicts with other add-ins or software

1. Test the issue by downloading a fresh workpaper from the SWP website: Smart workpapers

and connecting to a source.

2. Load Trial Balance

- Guide the user to load the trial balance data into the new workpaper.

- This process should be done carefully to ensure all necessary data is transferred.

3. Manual Data Comparison and Amendment

- Instruct the user to manually compare the data in the new workpaper with the original corrupted file.

- Any discrepancies should be carefully noted and amended in the new workpaper.

4. Verify Connectivity

- After creating the new workpaper and transferring data, test the connection to Ledger & Reporting to ensure the error has been resolved.

To minimize the risk of this error occurring in the future, advise users to:

- Regularly save their work

- Close Excel properly after each use

- Keep their software and add-ins up to date

- Avoid using the workbook on unstable network connections

- If the error persists after following these steps, escalate the issue to the development team for further investigation.

- Consider logging instances of this error to track frequency and identify potential patterns or underlying causes.