Works: Cell Formatting Is Lost When You Open a Spreadsheet in An Earlier Version of Works (268763)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 6
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2001
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2002
This article was previously published under Q268763

SYMPTOMS

If you open a Microsoft Works 3.0 Spreadsheet document in Works 6 Spreadsheet, the document may lose its font formatting and cell shading, and its number formatting may be changed.

CAUSE

This issue may occur because of the differences in formatting protocols between Works 3.0 and Works 6. Works 3.0 uses 11 bits of data per cell, and Works 6 uses 13 bits per cell.

The number formatting of the imported Spreadsheet document (or worksheet) can be changed or lost when the number of formatted cells exceeds 2,047. For example, cells that are formatted as percent numbers in Works 3.0 may be changed to general numbers in Works 6. This issue represents a limitation on the amount of memory that Works Spreadsheet can use when it converts file formats.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, reformat the cells after you open the worksheet in Works 6, and then save the worksheet as a Works 6 Spreadsheet document.

To format numbers in Works Spreadsheet, follow these steps:
  1. Click Number on the Format menu.
  2. Select a format from the Select format type box.
  3. Click OK.
To format the font in Works Spreadsheet, follow these steps:
  1. Click Font on the Format menu.
  2. Select the font type, style, size, and color that you want.
  3. Click OK.
To format cell shading in Works Spreadsheet, follow these steps:
  1. Click Shading on the Format menu.
  2. Select the colors and pattern that you want.
  3. Click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/13/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbgraphic kbinterop kbpending KB268763
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.