XL: Features and Formatting Lost Saving to Excel 5.0/95 (179824)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2002

This article was previously published under Q179824

SUMMARY

This article contains information about the features and formatting that are preserved or lost when you save a Microsoft Excel 2000 or Microsoft Excel 2002 workbook in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook (*.xls) format.

MORE INFORMATION

When you save a workbook in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format, the Excel 2000/2002 features and formatting are converted as follows in Excel 5.0 and 7.0.

Workbook Properties and Settings

   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   65,536 rows per worksheet       Rows after 16,384 are deleted.

   32,000 characters per cell      Characters after 255 are deleted.

   Custom views defined for a      Not saved.
   workbook

   Attached toolbars               Not saved.
				

Formatting

   Excel format or feature      Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Text formatted with Shrink To   Text is converted to the original point
   Fit (on the Alignment           size (before Shrink To Fit was applied).
   tab of the Cells dialog box)

   Rotated text                    Text that is rotated at angles other
                                   than 90 degrees, -90 degrees, or 0
                                   (zero) degrees, is changed to the
                                   horizontal orientation.

   Indentations within cells       Indentation is removed, and the contents
                                   of cells are left-aligned.

   Merged cells                    Merged cells are split into their
                                   original configurations. Data is placed
                                   in the upper-left cell.

   Conditional formatting          Conditional formatting is lost, and
                                   cells are reformatted with the Normal
                                   style.

   Sheet backgrounds               Not saved.

   New border styles               Border styles are converted to the
                                   most closely matched border style
                                   available in Microsoft Excel
                                   7.0 or 5.0.
				

Chart Features

   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Pie-of-pie or bar-of-pie        Saved as first type pie chart.
   chart format

   Bubble chart                    Saved as first type xy (scatter) chart.

   3-D marker shape (cylinder,     Saved as 3-D column chart (rectangular
   pyramid, and cone charts)       shape).

   Data tables in charts           Not saved.

   Rotated text on axis and        Saved as horizontally oriented text
   data labels                     (0 [zero] degrees).

   Gradient fills and patterns     Saved as the most closely matched
   on chart items                  available solid color and pattern.

   Shading in surface charts       Shading is not saved.

   Time-scale axis (x-axis         Special scaling information is lost,
   categories with date format)    and the axis is converted to a normal
                                   category axis.

   Shadows on series and points    Not saved.

   Sizable line and xy (scatter)   Not saved.
   data markers

   Special placement of data       Saved in the default location for chart
   labels                          items.
				

Analysis, PivotTable, and Data Access Features

   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   Natural language references     Column and row label references are
   in formulas                     converted to A1 reference notation.
                                   Names of named cells and ranges are
                                   preserved.

   These New worksheet functions:  Not supported in Microsoft Excel 7.0 or
   AVERAGEA; MAXA; MINA;           5.0. Microsoft Excel calculates the
   STDEVA; STDEVPA; VARA; VARPA;   function before saving the file and
   HYPERLINK; GETPIVOTDATA         replaces the formula with the resulting
                                   value. The HYPERLINK function is
                                   converted to =#N/A.

   Calculated fields, calculated   These PivotTable features are preserved
   items, and formatting based     until you change or refresh the
   on structured data tables       PivotTable data, after which the
                                   features are lost.

   Preserved formatting in         Formatting is saved, but structured
   PivotTables                     behavior is lost as soon you make
                                   any changes to or refresh the PivotTable
                                   data.

   PivotTable properties sheet     All properties that are new in Microsoft
                                   Excel 2000/2002 are lost, including the
                                   following:

                                    - Page field placement across columns
                                      or down rows

                                    - Alternate strings for #N/A and errors
                                      displayed in cells

                                    - Server-based page fields

                                    - AutoSort and AutoShow on fields

                                    - Multiple selection on page fields

                                    - Persistent grouping and sorting

                                    - Data fields displayed as numbers

   Web and database queries to     Data resulting from the latest query
   external data sources           is saved, but the query is not saved.

   Parameterized queries           Parameterized queries cannot be executed
                                   or edited.

   Shared queries (connections     Files that contain connections without
   without a data source name)     a data source name are supported in
                                   Microsoft Excel 7.0 (with ODBC 2.0).
                                   In Microsoft Excel 5.0 (with ODBC 1.0),
                                   you are prompted for connection
                                   information.

   Report templates                Not saved.

   Scenarios                       Scenarios defined for each sheet are
                                   saved.
				

OLE Objects and Graphics

If you select Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook as the default file format for saving workbooks and subsequently insert a Microsoft Excel workbook object in a program that supports OLE, the object data is saved in both the Microsoft Excel 2000/2002 and Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook formats. When the object is not active, it is represented in the container document as an icon, a graphic representation of worksheet cells, or a chart. The representation might include features that are unique to Microsoft Excel , such as merged cells or a bubble chart. If you are using Microsoft Excel 5.0 or Microsoft Excel 7.0 and you activate the object in the container document, the graphic representation is replaced by an image that reflects the Excel 5.0 or 7.0 data. If you then save the container document (or if the container document is automatically saved, for example by the AutoSave feature), only the Excel 5.0 or 7.0 data is updated. The Microsoft Excel 2000/2002 data is lost and cannot be recovered.
   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   Map objects                     Saved.

   WordArt objects                 Saved as a filled rectangle.

   AutoShape drawing objects       Converted to Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0
                                   drawing objects; three-dimensional
                                   shapes are preserved as two-dimensional
                                   objects.

   Organization chart objects      Saved.

   Scanned photographic images     Images that are inserted in a graphics
                                   format that is available in Microsoft
                                   Excel 7.0 or 5.0 are saved.
				

Workgroup and Internet Features

   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   Comments                        Saved as cell notes.

   Hyperlinks                      Not saved.

   Change tracking and audit       Change history is lost.
   trail

   Shared workbooks                Workbook is removed from shared use, and
                                   the change history is lost.

   Data validation rules           Not saved.
   for cells
				

Programmability Features

Visual Basic for Applications modules are converted to module sheets. All text is preserved in the module; however, not all new objects, methods, and properties in Microsoft Excel 2000/2002 are supported in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0. In some cases, you must edit the converted code to run the macros. Note that Microsoft Excel macro sheets (.xlm sheets) are preserved with no loss of functionality.
   Excel format or feature         Conversion to Excel 5.0 or 7.0
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   ActiveX Controls                ActiveX Controls appear in the workbook
                                   but cannot be used.

   Office Forms dialog box         Not supported.
   controls
				

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/27/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB179824