XL: Custom Number Formats Are Lost When Worksheet Saved As Lotus 1-2-3 File (214089)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q214089

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, when you save a worksheet in a Lotus 1-2-3 file format (WKS, WK1, WK3,WK4), and then open the file in Lotus 1-2-3, custom number formats created in Excel may not be recognized by Lotus 1-2-3.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

Although Lotus 1-2-3 uses the number formats listed in the following table, Lotus 1-2-3 is unable to recognize anything but the default number formats for a Microsoft Excel worksheet. The following is a table of the Lotus 1-2-3 date and time formats: 
   Date Formats                  Time Formats
   --------------------------------------------------------
   DD-MMM-YY                     HH:MM:SS AM/PM
   DD-MMM                        HH:MM AM/PM
   MMM-YY                        HH:MM:SS (default for long
   MM/DD/YY (default for long       international)
     international)              HH:MM (default for short
   MM/DD (default for short         international)
      international)
Lotus 1-2-3 also uses the following formats: fixed, scientific, currency, comma, percent (from 0 to 15 decimal places), general, +/-, text, hidden, automatic, and label.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/28/2003
Keywords:kb3rdparty kbhowto KB214089
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