XL97: Errors Saving to an Earlier File Format When Transition Formula Evaluation Is Enabled (229816)

SYMPTOMS

When you save your file, you receive one or more error messages similar to the following:

A formula in a cell (Cell:B7) could not be converted because it contains a function that is not available in the file format to which you are saving. If you continue the save, the formula and result will be saved, but the function itself will be converted to an error value.

followed by:

Microsoft Excel cannot convert some of the cells. The total number of errors found is 3.

followed by:

This workbook contains features that are not supported by the file format that you selected. To avoid the possible loss of formatting or information, be sure to save a copy in the most recent Microsoft Excel Workbook format.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

You saved your file to one of the following file formats:
- Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook
- Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook
- Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet
- Microsoft Excel 4.0 Workbook
-and-
Your worksheet contains any of the following functions:
- AVERAGE
- MIN
- MAX
- STDEV
- STDEVP
- VAR
- VARP
-and-
The Transition formula evaluation check box on the Transition tab of the Options dialog box is selected.

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Disable Transition Formula Evaluation

To disable Transition Formula Evaluation, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options.
On the Transition tab, click to clear the Transition formula evaluation check box, and then click OK.

Method 2: Use the Corresponding "A" Function

For each of the functions listed in the "Cause" section of this article, Excel includes a set of functions that are designed to be 100 percent compatible with Lotus 1-2-3. These functions are known as the "A" functions because all of the function names end with the letter A.

For additional information about using the A functions, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

156445 XL97: New A Functions in Microsoft Excel 97