How to use excel file created in version earlier than 4.0a in 4.0

G

Guest

Thanks to whomever answered my query but when I opened the email the screen
was blank. My laptop is sick. My question was and still is, how can I use my
Excel files created in a recent version on my laptop in my PC which is loaded
only with Excel 4.0a . Please and thanks.
 
H

Harald Staff

Hi Ajimmo

You can't, the file format changes twice since version 4. You need a newer
Excel version, a compatible spreadsheet program, or simply a viewer if all
you want to do is view / print the file.

HTH. Best wishes Harald
 
G

Guest

Dear Harold: Thanks so much to settle the question. So, do I go to Staples
and buy a later version? Any later version? Will the new program step
forward and grab the fle on opening if I don't uninstall the older version(as
in trying to uninstall a nasty little anti-spy program I am told "can't find
the install.log and so I seem to be stuck with that). Will the two installed
Excel programs present a problem as descibed. I hope I can navigate back to
this site to read the answer; it took all morning to do so and I still don't
know how I got back, or why I was so lost or why the answer adn request for
permission to continue which appeared on my email was blank. Thanks in
advance and retrospectively.
 
H

Harald Staff

Hi Ajimmo

You may be happy with Excel 4 and it may do all that you need. But it's
really antique and served its time well. Now let it rest and take advantage
of the inventions of the last decade. Even freeware applications perform
better than Excel 4.

Newer Windows Excel file formats are

Excel 5 + Excel 7 (aka Excel 95). Multiple worksheets in a workbook. Don't
buy those unless you're a collector like me.

and

Excel 2000 + Excel XP + Excel 2003.

The latest version is all any authorized reseller will sell you. If you go
to the secondhand market, note that XP and 2003 have "product activation" in
it, and if the software has been activated already then you may have
problems or even a worthless piece of software.

2000 was a very good year. If I had to choose a single version, and
sometimes I do; Excel 2000. It will open and work with all Excel files from
all versions, no problems. (If we leave VBA out of the discussion that is,
and we do)

If youy're using a Mac, then money is not an issue anyway. Buy Excel 2004,
it's great.

HTH. Best wishes Harald
 

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