PC Win: Lotus 1-2-3 WYSIWYG Attachments (105176)

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Versions of Lotus 1-2-3 earlier than version 4.0 use either an add-in module (WYSIWYG) or Allways to generate the enhanced formatting of the spreadsheet file. These enhancements are stored in a separate file. Because Allways and WYSIWYG perform in the same manner, this article will refer to the WYSIWYG .FM3 file extension. All references to Lotus 1-2-3 are for file formats earlier than version 4.0.

When you start up a Lotus 1-2-3 file and WYSIWYG is invoked, the program searches for both a .WKx file and a .FM3 file in the same directory. If the program finds both, it opens the .WKx file and then starts WYSIWYG to bring up the enhanced formatting. There is no form of coupling between the files, and the spreadsheet file is completely unaware of the existence of the formatting file. To "see" the special formatting, the sender must attach both the spreadsheet file and the format file. The receiver must save both attachments to the same subdirectory, start Lotus 1-2-3, and then open the spreadsheet file in that subdirectory.

With Lotus 1-2-3 version 4.0, a new file format (.WK4) has been introduced. Like Microsoft Excel, the graphics/formatting information is contained in the spreadsheet file. However, in an environment where there are several versions of Lotus 1-2-3, separate format and spreadsheet files are created for the older versions and, thus, the original problem occurs again.

This behavior is independent of Microsoft Mail and has been confirmed with Lotus Technical Support. The same results can be achieved from the Windows Program Manager by placing the format file in a separate subdirectory from the spreadsheet file and then double-clicking the spreadsheet file.

Lotus 1-2-3 and Allways are manufactured by Lotus Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.