Microsoft KB Archive/67467

{| = Excel: File Formats Excel 3.00 Can Save and Read =
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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994

Article ID: Q67467

SUMMARY
The following is a description of the different file formats available in Excel version 3.00:

File Format         Description ---         ---

Normal:             Standard format for a Microsoft Excel document. Use this format if the document is to be used in                    Excel 3.00. This format is also known as BIFF, or binary interchange file format.

Template:           Excel Template format. Useful for creating pre- formatted worksheets or charts.

Excel 2.x:          For transferring files to Microsoft Excel version 2.10 or 2.20. All graphic objects, including buttons, text boxes, and embedded charts are removed and cell border styles are replaced with single line borders. While outline formatting is                    removed, the file still retains cell formats assigned with either styles or cell styles.

SYLK:               Symbolic link. For transferring data to another application, such as Microsoft Multiplan or                    Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh version 1.50 or earlier.

Text:               ASCII text. Use this format for transferring data to or from a word processor. This format saves only the text and values as they are displayed in the cells on the worksheet. Columns are separated by tabs, and rows by carriage returns, but all other format information is                    lost. If a cell contains a comma or tab, the value from the cell is enclosed in double quotation marks.

CSV:                Comma separated values format is similar to text format except that CSV file format uses a comma to separate fields, instead of a tab. If a cell contains a comma, the value in the cell is                    enclosed in double quotation marks.

WKS:                For transferring data to or from Lotus 1-2-3 Release 1 or Lotus Symphony.

WK1:                For transferring data to or from Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.

WK3:                For transferring data to or from Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.

DIF:                Data Interchange Format. For transferring data to                    or from Visicalc.

DBF2:               For transferring the range named Database to or                     from dBASE II.

DBF3:               For transferring the range named Database to or                     from dBASE III.

DBF4:               For transferring the range named Database to or                     from dBASE IV.

Text (Windows):     For transferring data to or from a Windows application (tab delimited). Text (OS/2 or DOS): For transferring data to or from an OS/2 or DOS application (tab delimited).

CSV (Windows):      For transferring data to or from a Windows application (comma separated).

CSV (OS/2 or DOS):  For transferring data to or from an OS/2 or DOS application (comma separated).

Add-In macro:       For saving Microsoft Excel add-in macros. International macro: For saving macros such that they can be run on                    any supported language version of Microsoft Excel.
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