Knowledge Base

Works 3.0 FAQ: Spreadsheet Questions (Part 1)

Article ID: 154511

Article Last Modified on 9/26/2003

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 3.0a
Microsoft Works 3.0b

This article was previously published under Q154511

SUMMARY

This article provides the answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Spreadsheet module of Works. This article is Part 1 of 2. For more information about this topic, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

154513 Works 3.0 FAQ: Spreadsheet Questions (Part 2)

MORE INFORMATION

Q. Why does my new spreadsheet already contain information?

A. When you create a new document, and it already contains information, it has been saved as a default template. To disable the default template, do the following:
1. On the File menu, click Templates.
2. Select a spreadsheet template.
  
  NOTE: The spreadsheet templates are preceded by a yellow icon.
3. Click the Use This Template For All New Spreadsheet Documents box, and then click the box again to clear it.
4. Click New & Recent Documents, and then click Spreadsheet to create a blank spreadsheet.
Q. When I type a person's name in a cell or field, why does Works change it to the name of a month?

A. To increase speed and ease of use, Works is programmed to make some assumptions; sometimes those assumptions may be incorrect. If you type data that resembles the name of a month into a cell or field, Works assumes that it is the name of a month and modifies the data accordingly; this can happen with people's names. For example, Works may abbreviate the names April, Marc, and June to Apr, Mar, and Jun. Names like Marc and Jan may be automatically expanded to March and January.

To avoid this problem, either type a quotation mark before the name, for example, "April, or format the cells as text. With cells formatted as text, Works places a quotation mark in front of all new names that you type.

NOTE: The quotation mark indicates that the data in the cell is to be treated as text. The quotation mark does not print, just the text.
Q. When I print my spreadsheet, only some cells print, or nothing prints at all. Why?

A. To troubleshoot printing problems in a spreadsheet, check the following areas:
- Is the print area set correctly? If only a few cells are set as the print area, only those cells print. For more information on setting print area, see Question 5 in this article, "How can I print only part of my spreadsheet?" .
- Are columns or rows hidden? If so, they will not print. See the Question 4 in this article for information on how to make hidden columns or rows visible.
- Does the document display correctly in print preview?
- Are you using the correct printer driver, and is it set up correctly? Can you print correctly from other Windows applications? If not, you will probably not be able to print from Works.
Q. How do I make hidden rows and columns visible (unhide) in the Works spreadsheet?

A. To make the columns and rows visible in Works, do the following:
1. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
2. On the Format menu, click Column Width.
3. In the Column Width dialog box, either accept the default column width of 10, or enter a number greater than zero. Click OK.
  
  NOTE: Choosing Best Fit for the column width setting does not unhide a blank column.
4. On the Format menu, click Row Height.
5. In the Row Height dialog box, either accept the default row height of 12, enter another number greater than zero, or choose Best Fit. Click OK.
Q. How can I print only part of my spreadsheet?

A. To print only a part of your spreadsheet, do the following:
1. Select the area you want to print.
2. On the Format menu, click Set Print Area.
3. Click OK.
Q. Why am I getting extra blank pages when I print my spreadsheet?

If your spreadsheet prints extra blank pages, you may need to reset your print area. You can define exactly which rows and columns print by selecting the range you want to print, and then clicking Set Print Area on the Format menu. The pages printed match the area you included in your print area.

To reset the print area, click Select All on the Edit menu, then click Set Print Area on the Format menu.
Q. How do I import documents from another spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel?

To open a document that is directly supported by Works, do the following:
1. On the File menu, click Open Existing File.
2. Click the List Files Of Type box, and then click the appropriate file type.
3. Double-click the file you want to open.
NOTE: Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 is not supported by Works 3.0. If you are trying to open a document format that is not included in the Files Of Type box, you must first convert the document into one of the supported formats using the program that created the document. For more information about this task, consult documentation or product support for that program.
Q. How do I export documents for use in another spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel?

To export a document in a format that Microsoft Excel can read, do the following:
1. Open the document you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save File As Type box, click the type of document you want to save. All supported formats are listed here.
4. Click OK.
If you are trying to save a document for use in another spreadsheet, and that format is not directly available in the Save As Type box, save the file in a format the other spreadsheet program can import. For more information about file formats, see the documentation or contact product support for that spreadsheet program.
Q. What spreadsheet formats does Works support?

Works for Windows, version 3.0, can save and open spreadsheets in the following formats:
- Microsoft Excel 4.0 and 5.0
- Lotus 1-2-3 2.x
- Microsoft Works for Windows 2.0 and 3.0
- Microsoft Works for MS-DOS 1.0-3.0
- Microsoft Works for the Macintosh 3.0
- SYLK (Symbolic Link)
NOTE: SYLK is an import-only filter.

Q. How do I create a running total in the spreadsheet?

In a Works spreadsheet, you can use formulas to automatically create and calculate running totals. For example, to produce running totals in columns C and E of the following spreadsheet

               A          B         C          D            E
          1   Date    Bells Sold  Total   Whistles Sold   Total
          2  1/2/95       20       20          15          15
          3  1/9/95       10       30           5          20
          4 1/16/95       17       47           7          27
          5 1/23/95       45       92          25          52

you could use the SUM function as follows:

            A          B         C               D            E
       1   Date    Bells Sold  Total        Whistles Sold   Total
       2                       =SUM($B$2:B2)                =SUM($D$2:D2)
       3                       =SUM($B$2:B3)                =SUM($D$2:D3)
       4                       =SUM($B$2:B4)                =SUM($D$2:D4)
       5                       =SUM($B$2:B5)                =SUM($D$2:D5)

Once you have entered the SUM function at the top of the column, you can use the Fill Down command to copy the function as far down the column as you need.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: w_works

Keywords: kbinfo kbinterop kbprint kb3rdparty KB154511

Microsoft KB Archive/154511

Works 3.0 FAQ: Spreadsheet Questions (Part 1)

SUMMARY

MORE INFORMATION