ID: q102213
The information in this article applies to:
This article contains information about how to transfer files between Works 2.0 and Microsoft Excel 4.0 and 5.0, including a table that lists the features that will convert, features that will NOT convert, and comments on the conversion. Features are grouped for discussion based upon characters, cell and page formatting, formulas, and other features.
Works 2.0 cannot open Microsoft Excel files directly. They must first be saved in the Works for Windows spreadsheet file format (WKS) using the following steps:
1. In Microsoft Excel, open the file you want to convert.
2. From the File menu, choose Save As.
3. Enter a new name for the spreadsheet and select WKS (WKS (1-2-3) in
version 5.0) in the Save File As Type box. Choose OK or press ENTER.
Works files can be opened directly in Microsoft Excel by using the following steps:
1. In Microsoft Excel, choose Open from the File menu.
2. Change to the directory where the file is located.
3. Type "*.WKS" (without the quotation marks) in the File Name box
and press ENTER.
The following table lists the features that will convert and those that will not convert. It also provides additional comments as needed.
Works to Excel to
Feature Excel Works Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Character Converted to the
Formatting default in Works
for Windows if the
feature is not
available.
Font No No
Size No No
Bold No No
Color N/A No
Italic No No
Underline No No
Cell Formatting
Leading Zeros No N/A Excel translates
leading zeros into the
currency format.
Exponential Yes Yes
True/False No N/A
Currency Yes Yes
Percent Yes Yes
Time No No
Date Partial Partial Entries will transfer
as dates, but the date
format may change in
both Excel and Works.
Fraction
Numbers N/A No Transferred from Excel
into Works as a
decimal number.
Patterns N/A No
Protect Data Yes Yes Cell Protection in
Excel will transfer
into Works for
Windows. The Object
Protection or Window
Protection will not.
Page Formatting
Margins No No
Page Size No No Printer Driver Settings
are retained in both
Works for Windows and
Excel
Page Break(s) No No
Alignment (Text)
Centered Yes Yes
Left Yes Yes
Right Yes Yes
Justified N/A No
Alignment (Numbers)
Centered No No
Left No No
Right No No
Justified N/A No
Column Width Yes Yes The fractional parts of
the column width in
Excel will be dropped in
Works for Windows.
Row Height N/A No
Background
Shading N/A No
Borders No No
Headers/Footers Yes Partial The basic text will
convert from Excel to
Works. However, the
text formatting (font
size, font style, text
alignment) and the
inserted codes will be
lost. Multi-line
Headers and Footers in
Excel will be changed to
a single line in Works
for Windows.
Show Gridlines No Yes
Don't Show
Gridlines Yes No
Show Formulas No No
Print Gridlines No No
Print Row and
Column Headings No No
Formulas
Exists in Works
and Excel Yes Yes
Exists only in
Works:
ERR() No N/A
TERM Yes N/A Translates as the NPER
formula.
Exists only in
Excel Translates as text.
Some formulas are lost
and the formulas'
results are used
instead. (For instance,
TODAY() in Excel
translates to NOW() in
Works for Windows.)
Other Features:
Manual
Calculation Yes Yes
Split Screen Partial No A Works for Windows
document with split
screens(four panes)will
open in Excel as
multiple windows of the
same document.
Freeze Titles Yes Yes
Range Names Yes No Range Names in Excel
will transfer into Works
for Windows as the Range
Name with a $ before it.
This Range Name is not
always correct.
Print Area Yes No
Keywords : kbprint
Version : 2.00 2.00a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowtoLast Reviewed: October 22, 1998