XL: Cannot Open Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 Files (109246)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q109246
For a Microsoft Excel 2000 and later version of this article, see 214048.

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, you cannot open files that have been saved in the Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 format.

WORKAROUND

To open a Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 file in Excel versions 5.0 and later, the file must first be saved in a compatible file format in Works. To do this, in Microsoft Works for Windows version 3.0, follow these steps:
  1. Open the file that you want Microsoft Excel to be able to open.
  2. From the File menu, choose Save As.
  3. From the Save File As Type list, select one of the following file formats:
       Format                                  Saves File with Extension
   -----------------------------------------------------------------

   Works for Windows 2.0/                  WKS
   Works for DOS SS

   Excel 4.0/5.0 SS                        XLS

   Lotus 1-2-3                             WK1
  4. Click OK to save the file in the new format.
  5. Close the file before you attempt to open it in Microsoft Excel.
You should now be able to open the file in Microsoft Excel.

This information also applies to Microsoft Works version 3.0 for MS-DOS and Microsoft Works version 3.0 and 4.0 for the Macintosh. In these versions of Microsoft Works, follow the appropriate steps to save the file in any of the above file formats or in the symbolic link (SYLK) file format (which is also compatible with the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above).

MORE INFORMATION

When you open a file in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above, the List Files Of Type list indicates that one of the file types Microsoft Excel can open is

Microsoft Works Files (*.WKS)

Even though no version information is mentioned, Excel can only open Microsoft Works files that are saved in the Microsoft Works 2.0 (or earlier) format. You cannot open Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 files directly in Excel.

If you attempt to open a Microsoft Works 3.0 file, you receive the following error message:
Cannot read this binary file. If the file was created in a version of Microsoft Excel later than 5.0, use that version to save it as a Microsoft Excel 5.0 file. Open file as text?
NOTE: If you open the file as text, it is virtually unreadable.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:KB109246
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.