Works 3.0: How to Use the Works 3.0 File Updater (240929)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 3.0
  • Microsoft Works 3.0a
  • Microsoft Works 3.0b
This article was previously published under Q240929

SUMMARY

This article describes how to work around a year 2000 issue that you may experience when you run Microsoft Works for Windows versions 3.x.

MORE INFORMATION

In Works, you can format dates in spreadsheet cells and database fields to display dates in two-digit or four-digit years.

When you format a date cell or field to display a two-digit year, Works automatically assigns the "19" prefix to the year the next time you edit that cell or field. If you enter a four-digit year in a date cell or field formatted to display a two-digit year, Works automatically assigns the "19" prefix to the year. When you enter a date in a date cell or field without entering the year, Works automatically assigns the "19" prefix followed by the last two digits of the current year to that date.

In these cases, a date cell or field in the year 2000 becomes the year 1900. But this error is difficult to detect if that date cell or field is formatted to display only a two-digit year and the "19" prefix is not visible.

To work around this issue, use both of the following methods.

Format Date Cells and Fields in New Spreadsheets and Databases with Four-Digit Years

Whenever you create a new spreadsheet and database in Works, make sure that you format date cells and fields to display four-digit years.

Use the Works 3.0 File Updater

Download and run the Works 3.0 File Updater to check your Works spreadsheet and database files for any date cells and fields formatted to display two-digit years. The Works 3.0 File Updater automatically converts the year in all of those cells and fields to a four-digit year format, enabling you to see any potential errors. You can then manually change any years that are incorrect.

NOTE: No year 2000 software updates are planned for Works 3.0 or earlier.

How to Download the Works 3.0 File Updater

To download the Works 3.0 File Updater, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/works/updates/Wks3eng.exe

How to Run the Works 3.0 File Updater

To download the Works 3.0 File Updater, use the appropriate method for your version of Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK

    drive:\Wks3updt.exe

    where drive is the drive letter of the hard disk on which the Works 3.0 File Updater is installed.
  3. When the End-User License Agreement appears, click I Accept.
  4. Click No.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen until you are prompted to make sure that your system date displays the year in the four-digit format. To do this:

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Regional Settings.
    3. Click the Date tab.
    4. Under Short Date, click to select the date format that contains a four-digit year, such as, "M/d/yyyy."
    5. Click OK.
    6. Close Control Panel.
  6. In the Update Files In box in the Works 3.0 File Updater, type the folder location of the Works 3.0 spreadsheet and database files that you want to update.
  7. Click Start.
  8. When the update is finished, click View Report to see the changes that have been made.
Microsoft Windows 3.1:
  1. On the Window menu, click Main.
  2. Double-click File Manager.
  3. On the File menu, click Run.
  4. In the Command Line box, type the following line, and then press ENTER

    drive:Wks3updt.exe

    where drive is the drive letter of the hard disk on which the Works 3.0 File Updater is installed.
  5. When the End-User License Agreement is displayed, click I Accept.
  6. Click No.
  7. Follow the instructions on the screen until you are prompted to make sure that your system date displays the year in the four-digit format. To do this:

    1. On the Window menu, click Main.
    2. Double-click the Control Panel icon.
    3. In the Control Panel window, double-click the International icon.
    4. Under Date Format, click Change.
    5. Under Short Date Format, make sure that the Century check box is selected.
    6. Click OK.
    7. Close Control Panel.
  8. In the Update Files In box in the Works 3.0 File Updater, type the folder location of the Works 3.0 spreadsheet and database files that you want to update.
  9. Click Start.
  10. When the update is finished, click View Report to see the changes that have been made.

REFERENCES

For information about year 2000 issues in Works 2.x and 3.x, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

132471 Works: Trouble Querying for Dates Beyond 1999

Microsoft provides this Microsoft Works 3.0 File Updater tool free of charge to help customers identify areas of saved data within Works 3.0 where there may be potential date data issues. This tool is not guaranteed to identify all dates or identify all areas where there may be date data issues. The Works 3.0 File Updater should NOT be used as your exclusive means for inventorying your computers for purposes of conducting your year 2000 compliance assessment efforts.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/17/2006
Keywords:kbdisplay kbprb kbui KB240929
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