Opening .prn files in XL2000

[mfinger]

I am using a software that does not save data/reports in .csv or .xls
formats; only in printed versions. Is there a way to save the printed
report in a file and open the file in XL2000? If there is, how is the print
file produced, where is it saved, etc? A friend suggested setting up a
generic printer but didn't know how to go about it.

 

[Dave Peterson]

You may want to give that other software just one more chance--look under File
and see if there is a SaveAs option. You may find something upon further
review.

But if you want to add a generic printer, I think it'll depend on your version
of windows.

In Win98, I'd do:

Windows start button|settings|printers
Then doubleclick on Add Printer

Then I'd follow the wizard.
After win98, builds the list of printers, I could scroll down the manufacturer's
listbox and select Generic.

The other listbox (named printers) showed only one for me--Generic/Text only.

After a couple of more steps of the wizard, I was prompted for what port I want
assigned. I didn't really want a port, so I chose "File: Creates a file on
disk"

Then finish up the wizard.

Now when you print to that printer, you'll be prompted for a file name and
location. You can specify anywhere you want--but remember where you put it.

After you're done installing, it's back to your other software to test it out.

And after you're done testing, open up that new print file in Notepad to see if
it looks ok. It may wrap at a very bad spot which would mean opening it in
Excel would be a problem.

But if it looks nice, just open excel and do a File|open, you'll be prompted
with the text to columns wizard and you can parse your input records that way.