ACC: How to Import Spreadsheets from MS Works for Windows

ID: Q93698

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97
Microsoft Works for Windows, versions 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5a

SUMMARY

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

Microsoft Access can import Microsoft Works version 2.0 spreadsheet (.wks) files directly. This article explains how to transfer your spreadsheet files from Microsoft Works into a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

NOTE: If you use Microsoft Works 3.0 or later, you need to save your spreadsheets in Microsoft Works 2.0 format. After the spreadsheet is saved in version 2.0 format, you can import it into Microsoft Access using the steps below.

MORE INFORMATION

To import a Works spreadsheet, follow these steps:

In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97

Start Microsoft Access and open the database into which you want to import the Microsoft Works spreadsheet.

On the File menu, click Get External Data, and then click Import.

In the Import Box, select the correct folder for the Look In field, and then click Lotus 1-2-3 (*.wk*) in the Files Of Type list. To Import the spreadsheet, click the spreadsheet file you want to import, and then click Import.

This starts the Import Spreadsheet Wizard. Follow the instructions in the Wizard to import your spreadsheet into Microsoft Access.

In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0

Start Microsoft Access and open the database into which you want to import the Microsoft Works spreadsheet.

On the File menu, click Import.

In the Data Source box, select "Lotus (WKS)," and then click OK.

In the File Name box, select the spreadsheet file you want to import, and then click Import. If the first row of the spreadsheet contains column names, select the First Row Contains Field Names check box. Click OK. The file is imported into a table with the same name as the spreadsheet file.

After the database is imported, click Close.

NOTE: If the first row of a Works spreadsheet contains column names, Microsoft Access can use the column names as the field names for the new table. If the first row of the spreadsheet does not contain column names, Microsoft Access uses default field names for the fields in the new table.

The fields in the new table have the same data types as your Works spreadsheet, with the following exceptions:

Microsoft Works fields formatted as TRUE or FALSE are converted to Number fields.

A Microsoft Works FALSE value is converted to 0 and a TRUE value is converted to 1.

Microsoft Works Formula fields are converted to Number fields with values.

REFERENCES

For more information about Importing, search the Help Index for "Importing," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

For information about importing Microsoft Works database files into Microsoft Access, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q93429 How to Import a Works for Windows Database to MS Access

Additional query words: w_works


Keywords          : kbinterop IntpOff 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0,3.0,4.0,4.5,4.5a,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 13, 1999