Microsoft KB Archive/123261

= Formulas Failed to Convert Error Opening WK4 File =

Article ID: 123261

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q123261





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 file, you may receive one of following error messages:

This document contains formulas which failed to convert

-OR-

Cannot read cell < >. Continue reporting each error?

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you click OK in the error message box, cells on the worksheet that contain a formula that did not convert contain a cell Comment denoted by a red mark in the upper-right corner of the cell. The Comment displays the message

Formula failed to convert

and the cell contains the value of the formula when it was last saved.

In Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and earlier, when you click OK in the error message box, cells on the worksheet that contain a formula that did not convert contain the #VALUE! error value, and a cell note indicator.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because not all of the formulas available in Lotus 1- 2-3 are supported when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Microsoft Excel. Some of the formulas must be created again in Microsoft Excel. The following list is an example of some of the formulas that are available in Lotus 1-2- 3 that are not converted when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Microsoft Excel:

  @ACCRUED @ASEC @BETA @DATEINFO @PRODUCT (only Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0)

Note that when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 file, you receive an error message for each cell that contains a formula that cannot be converted. Additionally, when you open the file, the cells that contain formulas that were not converted contain the original value for the formula.



WORKAROUND
To locate each cell on the worksheet that contains a formula that was not converted do the following.

In Microsoft Excel 97
On the View menu, click Comments. Every cell that contains a cell Comment will show a tip displaying the text of the Comment.

In Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and earlier
On the Insert menu, click Note. The Notes In Sheet list contains the references of the cells that contain formulas that were not converted--the notes will contain the text "Formula failed to convert."



MORE INFORMATION
To open Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 files in Microsoft Excel, you must obtain the Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter. The Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter is available in Application Note WE1130 "Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter."

Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

