XL97: Macro Compatibility with Microsoft Excel (269178)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

This article was previously published under Q269178

SUMMARY

Working with macros in Microsoft Excel is different from working with macros in Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro. This article discusses the following topics:
  • Running Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro Macros in Microsoft Excel
  • Limitations of Running a Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro Macro in Microsoft Excel
  • Working with an AutoExec (AutoOpen) Macro

MORE INFORMATION

Running Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro Macros in Microsoft Excel

When you open a Lotus 1-2-3 worksheet in Microsoft Excel, you can run macros stored in the worksheet if the macros were created in Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.01. Microsoft Excel also supports some macro functionality that is available in Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2.

If you encounter problems with your Lotus 1-2-3 macros, you may want to rewrite those macros in Visual Basic for Applications. For additional information about Lotus 1-2-3 macros in Excel, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

148240 XL: Visual Basic Equivalents for Lotus Macro Commands

To run Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro macros, hold down CTRL key and type the letter of the macro name, for example, CTRL+Q.

If the macro contains a {?} command (the command to pause for input), and the phrase "MI Pause" (without the quotation marks) appears in the status bar, press enter to resume running the macro.

Microsoft does not recommend that you modify an existing Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro macro in Microsoft Excel; instead, make any modifications to the macro in the program in which you created the macro. However, you can use the Lotus 1-2-3 macro command, XLCALL, to branch to and run a Microsoft Excel macro. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119882 Calling a Microsoft Excel Macro from a Lotus 1-2-3 Macro

NOTE: You cannot create a new Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro macro in Microsoft Excel because you cannot use the keystroke name to run the macro. New macros that you create in Microsoft Excel use the Visual Basic for Applications macro language.

For more information about creating macros, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type macros in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Limitations of Running a Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro Macro in Microsoft Excel

The following limitations may require you to edit the macro if it is not compatible with Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.01:
  • Microsoft Excel may not be able to run Lotus 1-2-3 macros that you create in versions later than Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.01. Microsoft Excel recognizes all Lotus 1-2-3 and most Quattro Pro file formats, but only fully supports macros that contain menu commands, @ functions, keywords, and advanced macro commands that are supported by Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.01.
  • Microsoft Excel does not support references to add-in programs such as WYSIWYG. Make sure you remove any keystrokes or command names that attach, start, or use an add-in, such as the Always add-in and its menu structure. For example, you should remove statements such as /a and {app1}.
  • When you run a Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro macro in Microsoft Excel, the macro cannot end in a menu, such as the keystroke /pp. If a macro ends in a menu, the macro stops and a message appears. However, the macro can end by prompting for more information, such as the keystroke /ppr to specify the print range.

Working with an AutoExec (AutoOpen) Macro

If you have a Lotus 1-2-3 macro named "\0" (backslash zero) on your worksheet, Microsoft Excel automatically runs the macro when you open the worksheet. To check for the AutoExec macro in Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:
  • On the Insert menu, point to Name, and then click Define.
  • In the Names in workbook list, look for \0.
  • To remove the AutoExec macro, click \0 and click Delete.
To run an AutoExec macro after you open the Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro worksheet, press CTRL+0 (zero).

To open a worksheet without running an AutoExec macro stored in it, click Open on the File menu, select the file name, and then hold down SHIFT as you click OK.

If there is a Microsoft Excel Auto_Open macro and a \0 macro in the same workbook, Microsoft Excel runs the Auto_Open macro first, and then runs the \0 macro.

REFERENCES

For more information about macro compatibility, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type macro compatibility in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbdtacode kbhowto KB269178