--- src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/BOFRecord.java	(revision 552497)
+++ src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/BOFRecord.java	(working copy)
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ 
  * REFERENCE:  PG 289 Microsoft Excel 97 Developer's Kit (ISBN: 1-57231-498-2)<P>
  * @author Andrew C. Oliver
  * @author Jason Height (jheight at chariot dot net dot au)
+ * @author Richard Evans (richard.evans at datanomic.com)
  * @version 2.0-pre
  */
 
@@ -110,10 +111,24 @@ 
     {
         field_1_version  = in.readShort();
         field_2_type     = in.readShort();
-        field_3_build    = in.readShort();
-        field_4_year     = in.readShort();
-        field_5_history  = in.readInt();
-        field_6_rversion = in.readInt();
+
+        // Some external tools do not generate all of the remaining fields
+
+        if (in.remaining() >= 2) {
+          field_3_build = in.readShort();
+        }
+
+        if (in.remaining() >= 2) {
+          field_4_year = in.readShort();
+        }
+
+        if (in.remaining() >= 4) {
+          field_5_history  = in.readInt();
+        }
+
+        if (in.remaining() >= 4) {
+          field_6_rversion = in.readInt();
+        }
     }
 
     /**