Article ID: 871015
Article Last Modified on 7/21/2004
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac
SUMMARY
This article contains the contents of the Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac Read Me file.
Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac Read Me
March 2004
© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This document provides late-breaking information about Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac and is current as of the date above. After that date, you can find more current information and resources at the Microsoft website at
CONTENTS
1 System requirements and installation
For information about system requirements and installing Excel 2004, open the Installation Read Me file from the Microsoft Office 2004/Read Me folder on the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac CD-ROM or on the Excel CD-ROM.
2 Known issues
2.1 New default view
2.1 New default view Excel 2004 introduces a new default view called Page Layout View. If you prefer to use another view as the default view, you can change it in Excel preferences. On the Excel menu, click Preferences, click View, and then click the view you want on the Open new worksheets using this view pop-up menu.
2.2 New default chart color schemes
Excel 2004 introduces a new set of default chart color schemes. If you prefer to use the chart color schemes used by earlier versions of Excel, click your chart, and then on the Formatting Palette, click the second or third color scheme on the Scheme pop-up menu under Chart Colors, Lines, and Fills.
2.3 Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
Excel 2004 includes Microsoft Query, a program you can use to create, modify, and refresh database queries by using an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) connection. To use ODBC connections with Excel 2004, you must have an ODBC driver that is compatible with Microsoft Query installed on your computer. Compatible ODBC drivers are available from third-party vendors. You can find information about compatible ODBC drivers on the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/mac. For more information about installing ODBC drivers and using Query, see Microsoft Query Help.
2.4 FileMaker Pro
Excel 2004 can import files created by FileMaker Pro versions 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0. It cannot import files created by FileMaker Pro version 7.0.
2.5 Picture selection tools in Page Layout View
In Page Layout View, if you cut or copy a portion of a picture by using the Rectangular Marquee, Oval Marquee, Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, or Magic Lasso and then use the Paste command, the entire picture is pasted. To work around this issue, switch to Normal View by clicking Normal on the View menu, and then copy and paste the portion of the picture you want.
2.6 Outline-style text
If you have text in your workbook that uses the Outline font formatting, that text appears as bold text when printed with print quality set to Normal. To avoid this, change the print quality to a different setting. On the File menu, click Page Setup. On the Page tab, click an option on the Print quality pop-up menu.
2.7 XML Spreadsheets and PivotTable reports
Excel 2004 cannot open XML Spreadsheets that contain a PivotTable report.
3 Microsoft Query
3.1 Parameters
Excel 2004 and Query do not support parameters in queries.
3.2 AND and OR operators in criteria
You cannot use the AND and OR operators in criteria when creating a query in Query view. To use the operators, switch to SQL view, and then type the operator into your query manually.
3.3 Unknown data types
Due to issues with current ODBC drivers for Mac OS X, some data types, such as BIGINT and GUID, are incorrectly returned to Query as string data types, such as CHAR and VARCHAR. As a result, if you create a query that contains operators in the criteria, and you run your query on data containing one of these data types, Query might not return an accurate result, or it might incorrectly report that your query contains "complex SQL".
3.4 IMAGE data type
If you create a query that includes data of data type IMAGE, the data in the image fields will not display correctly in the data pane of Query. Also, image field data cannot be returned to Excel.
3.5 TINYINT data type
If you create a query that includes numerical data of data type TINYINT (one-byte integers), the data will not display correctly in the data pane of Query. However, the data displays correctly when you return it to Excel.
3.6 SQL views
If your database contains views (queries stored in the database to create virtual tables), Query does not display views in the Tables palette. To use views in your query, switch to SQL view in Query, and then enter them into your query manually.
3.7 Currency data
If you run Query criteria against currency values, you might not get an accurate result if the currency data contains non-numeric information, such as a dollar sign ($).
3.8 International (double-byte) characters
Databases with table names or field names containing international (double-byte) characters do not display properly in Query. However, double-byte characters display correctly once the data is returned to Excel.
3.9 Nested functions
You cannot create nested functions in Query view. To use nested functions in your query, switch to SQL view, and then enter them into your query manually.
4 More help
For additional technical assistance, you can get support information on the Web at
You can also contact Microsoft Product Support Services in the United States by phone at (425) 454-2030 for standard support, and (800) 936-5700 for paid assisted support. In Canada, call (905) 568-2294 for standard support, and (800) 668-7975 for paid assisted support.
Additional query words: mac X OS ReadMe
Keywords: kbinfo KB871015
