XL2000: Error Message When You Open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File (214006)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 2000, when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 file, you may receive one of following error messages:

This document contains formulas which failed to convert.

-or-

Cannot read cell <cell address>. Continue reporting each error?

-or-

Cannot read record (Cell:[address]).
Continue reporting each error?

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

In Excel 2000, when you click OK in the error message box, cells on the worksheet that contain a formula that did not convert also contain a cell comment denoted by a red mark in the upper-right corner of the cell. The comment displays the following message

Formula failed to convert

and the cell contains the value of the formula when it was last saved.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because not all of the formulas available in Lotus 1-2-3 are supported when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Excel. Some of the formulas must be created again in Excel. The following list is an example of some of the formulas that are available in Lotus 1-2-3 that are not converted when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Excel:

   @ACCRUED
   @ASEC
   @BETA
   @DATEINFO

Note that when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 file, you receive an error message for each cell that contains a formula that cannot be converted. Additionally, when you open the file, the cells that contain formulas that were not converted contain the original value for the formula.

WORKAROUND

To locate each cell in the worksheet that contains a formula that was not converted, click Comments on the View menu. Note that every cell that contains a cell comment shows a tip displaying the text of the comment.

MORE INFORMATION

The file format converter for Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 files is included with Excel 2000. For more information about this converter, refer to the "References" section. The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

For more information about calculating Lotus 1-2-3 formulas, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type enter and calculate formulas by using lotus 1-2-3 formula entry methods in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.