MXL: How to Open Microsoft Excel Version 1.x Files

ID: Q142127

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, if you attempt to open a Microsoft Excel version 1.x file, you may receive the following error message 

   Cannot open normal document created in Microsoft Excel for the
   Macintosh version 1.x
and you will not be able to open your file.

MORE INFORMATION

In order to open a file created in Microsoft Excel version 1.x, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: If Microsoft Excel version 1.x is still available, use the 

          following steps:

          a. Open the file in Microsoft Excel version 1.x.

          b. On the File menu, click Save As.

          c. In the dialog box that appears, click the option button for
             SYLK, and then click Save.

          You should now be able to open the file in Microsoft Excel
          version 5.0 or Microsoft Excel 98.
Method 2: If you do not have Microsoft Excel version 1.x, but you do have 
          access to either version 3.0 or 4.0, do the following:

          a. Open the file in either version 3.0 or 4.0

          b. On the File menu, click Save As.

          c. Save the file in Normal format.

          You should now be able to open the file up in Microsoft Excel
          version 5.0 or MIcrosoft Excel 98.
Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 98 XL98 XL5 
Keywords          : xlmac 
Version           : 5.00 5.00a 98
Platform          : MACINTOSH

Last Reviewed: February 23, 1998