Trying to attach Excel file to my email...but it is too big...how do I fix?

Question

I am trying to attach two excel files to an email, and each time it goes as follows:
1. push the attach file button
2. chose my files
3. push the attach files button
4. the blue "progress" stripe begins to fill the address bar
5. Then it stops about an eighth of the way toward the end, and doesnt go any further...
I tried letting it go for a while, and giving it time, but it doesnt work. The file size is 34.4 (which I know is huge), but there is only about 20 lines of the Excel being used, but the program is trying to attach 64,599 lines of unused space, and that is why it isnt attaching im sure, but i dont know how to fix it, or if it is even possible.
Please help!
g5   Mac OS X (10.4.2)  

Answer 1

what email provider do you use?
i'd be surprised anyway if it will allow an attachment of that size. the limit is usuall between 1 and 5 MB, some going to 10 or 15 like gmail.
34MB? not unless you have an expensive or corporate email provider.
you can:
1: do like daddypaycheck said and reduce the file size by deleting unnecessary rows or collumns,
2: download OpenOffice.org, or NeoOffice, see if you like that and save it in the native format, usuall smaller file (beware compatibility)
3: use dropstuff or the like to break the file apart into multiple smaller compressed chunks, and send them in multiple emails (the size of the chunks each should match the attachment size limit for your email provider, see their website)
4:this is my favorite - put the file in your Sites folder, in your user's Home folder. open system prefs-> sharing. check the box to enable personal web sharing. go to www.whatismyip.org and copy the string of numbers that appear (that's your external ip). now you can host the file from your computer, and only email people a link to it! the link should be like this:
http://yourip/~your_short_username/name_of_exceldocument.xls
for example, here is my resume in .pdf, hosted from my computer (let me know if it works for you!)
http://67.40.250.86/~Willeyeam/images/WBLResume.pdf
Bam! I'd go with number 4, and test the url in your browser to make sure it works. once you get the page, you can "save as" and download the file. that way people can receive an email with only text, including the url (link) to the hosted file on your computer. then they can "save as" and download the file.
another, more sophisticated way to do this is to write a small .html page that has a link to that file (in your sites folder). name the .html file "index.html" and replace the file by that name which is by default placed in your Sites folder. that will then be your home page at:
http://yourip/~your_shortusername/
Rock on!