Excel and Lotus DIF File Differences

ID: Q60997

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

A DIF (Data Interchange Format) file created by Microsoft Excel differs from one created by Lotus 1-2-3. This may pose a problem for those programs such as Charting Gallery, which require imported data to be Lotus DIF compatible.

MORE INFORMATION

All parts of Lotus and Excel DIF files are similar except for the VECTORS and TUPLES entries. The following table would create the respective VECTORS and TUPLES entries in a DIF file:

	A	B	C	D
1		1989	1988	1987
2	MARY	10	8	5
3	SAM	9	8	6

	EXCEL	LOTUS
VECTORS	0,3	0,4
TUPLES	0,4	0,3

In order to make the Microsoft Excel DIF file compatible with the Lotus format, use a text editor and swap the VECTORS and TUPLES number entries.


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Last Reviewed: July 14, 1999