File Association.

[Guest]

A friend has given me a floppy disc with 7 files on it and asked for my
assistance Says files required for his tax return. These files are shown as
being associated with Excel (.xls) but those that can be opened, give a
screen full of hieroglyphics' with the odd intelligable English word/sentence
thrown in. I'm not sure the file association is right (though why the
shouldn't be correct, I don't know) but have tried opening with Works (v6)
Spreadsheet to no avail. Tried other associations but cannot get "clean"
view. Some content looks as though they may be web pages but can't open in
IE.

I removed extension from file so type is URL:File Protocol, and tried
various applications from the "Open with" window that comes up. No joy.

Any suggestions ???

 

[Mike Williams]

A friend has given me a floppy disc with 7 files on it and asked for my
assistance Says files required for his tax return. These files are shown as
being associated with Excel (.xls) but those that can be opened, give a
screen full of hieroglyphics' with the odd intelligable English word/sentence
thrown in. I'm not sure the file association is right (though why the
shouldn't be correct, I don't know) but have tried opening with Works (v6)
Spreadsheet to no avail. Tried other associations but cannot get "clean"
view. Some content looks as though they may be web pages but can't open in
IE.

I removed extension from file so type is URL:File Protocol, and tried
various applications from the "Open with" window that comes up. No joy.

Any suggestions ???

Have you asked your friend how they made these files?

 

[Heirloom]

Using Excel will open the files......as an alternative, you can get one of a
myriad of 'conversion' apps that will allow you to open the .xls files as
DBF, CSV, XML, PDF, HTML, CHM, RTF, HLP, DOC.........and more. See:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=convert+.xls+files
Heirloom, old and cat skinning comes to
mind

 

[Guest]

Mike,

Good question but answer is no........dates on disc say files last modified
in 2002. Taxman really must be after him. Automatically assumed he wouldn't
remember I'll ask he case he does.

 

[Guest]

Heirloom,

Tks for response. If Excel is used, all I see is gibberish. I tried demo
version of ABC excel converter app. This doesn't recognise any of the files
on the floopy as Excel (.xls). App tested on my own excel files and works
fine. So, for some reason, so called excel files on floppy were not created
by Excel !!??!!

 

[Mike Williams]

Heirloom,

Tks for response. If Excel is used, all I see is gibberish. I tried demo
version of ABC excel converter app. This doesn't recognise any of the files
on the floopy as Excel (.xls). App tested on my own excel files and works
fine. So, for some reason, so called excel files on floppy were not created
by Excel !!??!!

Perhaps they were given an XLS extension optimistically. Have you tried
opening them in Notepad? They might just be .CSV (comma delimited text)
files.

 

[Guest]

Mike,

I've tried a number of apps.........

..doc, .wps, .rtf, .txt, .htm, etc I've also tried .csv but get message
that the file is not in a recognisable format and to open it up in it's
original application (?). When I say Ok to this, excel opens up but is
gibberish with the odd word/sentance.

One thing occurs to me..... files dated 2002. Possible created in an
earlier version of excel say '97. I'm trying to view in XP (2002). Is their
a compatability issue here???

 

[ANONYMOUS]

You will need to use latest Excel applications as sometimes files
created in Excel 2003 (version 11) may not open in Excel 2002/XP
(version 10).

I suggest download an Excel 2003 viewer from MS website (to see if they
open.

Alternatively, open the file in NOTEPAD and see what the first two
characters are in the file. This should give you a clue.

Some tax data files have .DAT extensions and these cannot be opened
unless you have the original tax program.

hth

 

[Mike Williams]

Mike,

I've tried a number of apps.........

.doc, .wps, .rtf, .txt, .htm, etc I've also tried .csv but get message
that the file is not in a recognisable format and to open it up in it's
original application (?). When I say Ok to this, excel opens up but is
gibberish with the odd word/sentance.

One thing occurs to me..... files dated 2002. Possible created in an
earlier version of excel say '97. I'm trying to view in XP (2002). Is their
a compatability issue here???

No. Excel will open earlier versions of its files. Someone on one of the
Excel newsgroups might have suggestions if they've seen this type of
thing before.

 

[Guest]

Anonymous,

Tks for response.

Opening in Excel 2002 initially opens window stating file is not in
recognisable format, click Ok to message, excel opens but produces gibberish
with the odd english word and sentence.

I've downloaded and installed Excel 2003 Viewer and on trying to open file
via viewer get message saying 'Excel viewer cannot open files of this type'

Opening in notepad shows first two characters as square symbols (in fact
first 4). Notepad opens and produces same result if extension is .dat. Files
were not created with a revenue tax application though who knows what. Is
there any other app that has xls as an extension ?? perhaps created on mac or
by Lotus app????

 

[Plato]

A friend has given me a floppy disc with 7 files on it and asked for my
assistance Says files required for his tax return. These files are shown as
being associated with Excel (.xls) but those that can be opened, give a
screen full of hieroglyphics' with the odd intelligable English word/sentence
thrown in. I'm not sure the file association is right (though why the
shouldn't be correct, I don't know) but have tried opening with Works (v6)
Spreadsheet to no avail. Tried other associations but cannot get "clean"
view. Some content looks as though they may be web pages but can't open in
IE.

Any suggestions ???

Yes, Use Excel to open Excel files. Easy fix.

 

[Guest]

Plato,

I don't wish to be ungrateful of your response but have you read what I put
??? If Excel opened up the files "correctly" I wouldn't of posted in the
first place.