Microsoft KB Archive/184303

= XL98: Cannot Open Microsoft Works Spreadsheet Files =

Article ID: 184303

Article Last Modified on 9/11/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q184303



SYMPTOMS
When you open a spreadsheet file that was created in Microsoft Works for Macintosh version, you may receive on of the following error messages:

This file is not in a recognizable format.


 * If you know the file is from another program which is incompatible with Microsoft Excel, click Cancel, then open this file in its original application. If you want to open the file later in Microsoft Excel, save it in a format that is compatible, such as text format.
 * If you suspect the file is damaged, click Help for more information about solving the problem.
 * If you want to see what text is contained in the file, click OK. Then click Finish in the Text Import Wizard.

-or-

: file format is not valid.

Note that  is the name of the file that you are trying to open.



CAUSE
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition is not compatible with files that have been saved in the Microsoft Works for Macintosh version 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 file format.



WORKAROUND
To open a file saved from Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 in Excel 98, you must first save the file in a compatible file format.

Microsoft Works 4.0
To save a file in a file format that is compatible with Excel 98, follow these steps:  Open the file that you want to open in Microsoft Excel. Click Save As on the File menu.  Click one of the following file formats in the File Format list:      Excel 3.0 Excel 4.0 Excel 5.0  Type the name for the new file in the Save Document As box. Click Save to save the file in the new format.</li> On the File menu, click Close.</li></ol>

You can open the file in Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft Works 3.0
To save a file in a file format that is compatible with Excel 98, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the file that you want to open in Microsoft Excel.
 * 2) Click Save As on the File menu.
 * 3) Click Excel 3.0 in the File Format list.
 * 4) Type the name for the new file in the Save Document As box.
 * 5) Click Save to save the file in the new format.
 * 6) On the File menu, click Close.

You can open the file in Microsoft Excel.

Additional query words: XL98

Keywords: kbprb kbfaq KB184303

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