Microsoft KB Archive/102213

= Transferring Files Between Works 2.0 for Windows and Excel =

ID: q102213

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Works versions 2.0, 2.0a for Windows
 * Microsoft Excel versions 4.0, 5.0 for Windows

SUMMARY
This article contains information about how to transfer files between Works 2.0 and Microsoft Excel 4.0 and 5.0, including a table that lists the features that will convert, features that will NOT convert, and comments on the conversion. Features are grouped for discussion based upon characters, cell and page formatting, formulas, and other features.

TRANSFERRING FILES FROM EXCEL TO WORKS FOR WINDOWS
Works 2.0 cannot open Microsoft Excel files directly. They must first be saved in the Works for Windows spreadsheet file format (WKS) using the following steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel, open the file you want to convert.

2. From the File menu, choose Save As.

3. Enter a new name for the spreadsheet and select WKS (WKS (1-2-3) in

version 5.0) in the Save File As Type box. Choose OK or press ENTER. The spreadsheet can now be opened directly into Works for Windows.

TRANSFERRING FILES FROM WORKS FOR WINDOWS TO MICROSOFT EXCEL
Works files can be opened directly in Microsoft Excel by using the following steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel, choose Open from the File menu.

2. Change to the directory where the file is located.

3. Type "*.WKS" (without the quotation marks) in the File Name box

and press ENTER. 4. Select the file you want to open and choose OK.

FEATURE CONVERSION TABLE
The following table lists the features that will convert and those that will not convert. It also provides additional comments as needed.

Works to     Excel to Feature               Excel         Works       Comments --

Character                                      Converted to the Formatting                                     default in Works for Windows if the feature is not available.

Font             No            No

Size             No            No

Bold             No            No

Color            N/A           No

Italic           No            No

Underline        No            No

Cell Formatting

Leading Zeros    No            N/A         Excel translates leading zeros into the currency format.

Exponential      Yes           Yes

True/False       No            N/A

Currency         Yes           Yes

Percent          Yes           Yes

Time             No            No

Date             Partial       Partial     Entries will transfer as dates, but the date format may change in                                                both Excel and Works.

Fraction Numbers          N/A           No          Transferred from Excel into Works as a                                                decimal number.

Patterns         N/A           No

Protect Data     Yes           Yes         Cell Protection in                                                 Excel will transfer into Works for Windows. The Object Protection or Window Protection will not.

Page Formatting

Margins          No            No

Page Size        No            No          Printer Driver Settings are retained in both Works for Windows and Excel

Page Break(s)    No            No

Alignment (Text)

Centered         Yes           Yes

Left             Yes           Yes

Right            Yes           Yes

Justified        N/A           No

Alignment (Numbers)

Centered         No            No

Left             No            No

Right            No            No

Justified        N/A           No

Column Width     Yes           Yes         The fractional parts of                                                 the column width in                                                 Excel will be dropped in                                                 Works for Windows. Row Height       N/A           No

Background Shading          N/A           No

Borders          No            No

Headers/Footers  Yes           Partial     The basic text will convert from Excel to                                                Works. However, the text formatting (font                                                size, font style, text                                                 alignment) and the inserted codes will be                                                lost. Multi-line Headers and Footers in                                                Excel will be changed to                                                 a single line in Works for Windows.

Show Gridlines   No            Yes

Don't Show Gridlines        Yes           No

Show Formulas    No            No

Print Gridlines  No            No

Print Row and Column Headings  No            No

Formulas

Exists in Works and Excel        Yes           Yes

Exists only in    Works:

ERR          No            N/A

TERM           Yes           N/A         Translates as the NPER formula.

Exists only in    Excel                                       Translates as text. Some formulas are lost and the formulas' results are used instead. (For instance,                                                TODAY in Excel                                                 translates to NOW in                                                 Works for Windows.)

Other Features:

Manual Calculation      Yes           Yes

Split Screen     Partial       No          A Works for Windows document with split screens(four panes)will open in Excel as                                                multiple windows of the same document.

Freeze Titles    Yes           Yes

Range Names      Yes           No          Range Names in Excel will transfer into Works for Windows as the Range Name with a $ before it. This Range Name is not always correct.

Print Area       Yes           No Additional query words: 2.0a 2.00 import export w_excel converting conversion transfers compatibility lotus

Keywords         : kbprint Version          : 2.00 2.00a Platform         : WINDOWS Issue type       : kbhowto Last Reviewed: October 22, 1998